Cambridge Dictionary has named "parasocial" as its word of the year.

The term describes a deep bond people feel with someone they don't actually know, such as a celebrity, social media influencer, or even an AI companion.

The word was first coined in the 1950s.

Other contenders included "slop," which refers to low-quality internet content, and "memeify," used when an event, image, or person is turned into an internet meme.