Collins Names ‘Mogging’ Its 2026 Word of the Year

“Mogging” has been named Collins Dictionary’s 2026 word of the year, after its use increased by 210%. The slang describes outshining or upstaging someone and is commonly used playfully and ironically, particularly by younger people, Collins said on November 3.

The word has circulated for about a decade, with its meaning changing over time. It is believed to have originated from “AMOG,” short for “alpha male of the group,” and was once used in bodybuilding circles to describe the most physically dominant man in a gym. It later became a verb and was briefly adopted by the manosphere.

Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said the choice reflected how generations shape language. The dictionary’s experts track a database of 27 billion words, drawing on sources including social media and examining both frequency and usage patterns.

Other words on the 2026 list include “firewaves,” meaning a cluster of urban wildfires occurring over a brief period, and “P(doom),” an estimate of the likelihood that artificial intelligence could cause the collapse of human civilization. “Carspreading” describes the trend toward longer, wider and heavier cars, while “fricy” refers to fashionable food or drinks that combine fruity and spicy flavors.

The list also includes “ghost jobs,” advertised roles for which employers have no intention of hiring, and “friendslop,” a low-budget independent video game played among friends. Shortlisted terms included “hydration break,” which entered wider use during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and “Manchesterism,” a political philosophy associated with regional devolution and linking economic growth to social progress.