Collins Names 'Mogging' the Word of the Year for 2026
Usage of the slang term surged 210 percent as younger generations adopted it for playful teasing, despite its roots in online male forums.
By Abigail Brooks ·
The term 'mogging' has been selected as the Collins Dictionary Word of the Year for 2026.
The word describes the act of outshining or outperforming another person. Collins lexicographers identified a 210 percent increase in usage over the past year. The term has moved from online spaces into everyday conversation, particularly among Generation Z and Generation Alpha.
Collins monitors a 27-billion-word corpus that includes social media data. The dictionary noted a distinct shift in how younger users employ the word. They use it as a form of playful teasing among friends rather than as a serious critique.
The slang originated in the manosphere. Lucy Knight, writing for the Guardian, traced the term to the acronym 'Amog,' which stood for alpha male of the group. In misogynistic forums during the 2010s, to 'mog' meant to outdo someone in sexual desirability.
The 2026 list also captures other emerging terms. 'Carspreading' refers to the trend of manufacturers building vehicles that are longer, wider, and heavier. 'Ghost jobs' describes positions advertised with no intention of hiring. 'Fricy' denotes food or drinks that combine fruity and spicy flavors. 'Bixie' is a hairstyle shorter than a bob but longer than a pixie cut.
Gaming culture contributed the term 'friendslop,' which refers to low-budget, independently produced video games played among friends. In the United Kingdom, the appointment of Andy Burnham as prime minister drove a surge in the use of 'Manchesterism.' This term references his political philosophy of devolving power to regions while combining economic growth with social progress.
The 2026 World Cup introduced the 'hydration break,' a pause in contests for players to drink fluids. Climate concerns featured in the list with the term 'firewaves,' defined as a series of urban wildfires occurring in a short time. AI anxiety is reflected in the rising usage of 'P(doom),' an estimation of the probability that artificial intelligence will cause the collapse of human civilization.
Source: The Irish Times
