The Collins English Dictionary has named the word "mogging" as the word of the year. Coined by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, particularly on social media, the word means "to outperform or outshine someone or something else". According to the Associated Press, the slang term has been widely used, with a 210 per cent increase in usage this year. The word of the year has reiterated how social media slang continues to influence everyday English.
What Does It Mean?
Based on the Collins Dictionary announcement, the word "mogging" means to outshine or outperform someone or something. It is frequently used when someone naturally steals the spotlight by appearing more attractive, confident, stylish, or impressive than people around them. For example, someone's effortless streetwear might stand out among the crowd, describing it as "mogging" everyone around them.
Where Did It Originate?
According to the blog post by the Collins English Dictionary, the term has been around for a decade and has roots in the phrase "AMOG," an acronym for "Alpha Male of the Group." Initially, it was used as a noun in the bodybuilding culture to describe the most physically dominant or attractive man in a given space. Later, it was used as a verb adopted by the manosphere.
Today, Gen Z and Gen Alpha internet culture have co-opted the word and made it fully mainstream. "Fast forward to 2026 and it's everywhere. Teenagers mog elite athletes, a new video game mogs an old favourite, and your friend's sourdough mogs the loaf you spent all weekend proving," Collins English Dictionary said.
Highlighting how each generation leaves a mark, Alex Beecroft, managing director of Collins, said, "It's a great example of how Gen Z and Gen Alpha have adopted a word and turned it into humorous slang, making the language their own and ‘mogging’ the rest of us!"
What Other Words Were Included?
Based on emerging social media trends, cultural shifts, and technological advancement, the dictionary has also shortlisted several other words. One of them is "carspreading". It means the growing tendency of the manufactures to build cars wider, longer and heavier cars. The word has become popular after SUVs own the majority of car sales in the UK, as per Collins English Dictionary.
Another word to be shortlisted is "firewave", meaning the evident effects of global warming, when multiple wildfires occur over a short period of time. Other shortlist words include, "ghost job," which means when an employer posts a job advert with no intention of hiring anyone, and "hydration break," a term used at the 2026 World Cup that allows contestants to pause a sporting event to drink fluids.
"Friendslop" was also considered. It describes a low-budget game designed to be played with friends.
How Is The Word Of The Year Selected?
Annually, the Collins Dictionary picks its word of the year by tracking emerging language trends. A team of dictionary editors monitors the database that has approximately 27 billion words that show a sudden, massive spike in usage. Before shortlisting and announcing the word of the year, they examine how these terms will shape and influence culture.
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