Standard Lemma guide

parasocial

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

One-sided (especially of a relationship, as for example that between a celebrity and their audience or fans, whom they do not know).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a parasocial relationship

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From para- + social, coined by American sociologist Richard Wohl and Donald Horton in 1956.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: gachi — Translations
  • French: parasocial — Translations
  • German: parasozial — Translations
  • Polish: parasocjalny — Translations