What Does ‘Mogging’ Mean, and Why Did Collins Pick It as Word of the Year?

Collins Dictionary has named “mogging” its word of the year for 2026. The slang term, which means outshining or upstaging someone or something, was announced Tuesday, according to ABC News and The Guardian.

Dictionary experts said the word has moved into mainstream language, with ABC News reporting a 210% increase in its usage in 2026.

What does “mogging” mean?

The Guardian quoted Collins copywriter Rachel Quin as saying the term describes making a person or thing look inferior in appearance, confidence or status. Collins experts told ABC News it is most often used by young people in a playful, ironic way when someone is upstaged.

Quin offered everyday examples: a new video game can mog an old favorite, and a friend’s homemade sourdough can mog the loaf you spent all weekend on.

Where did the word come from?

According to The Guardian, the word is believed to be a shortening of “Amog,” short for the alpha male of a group. Quin said it first appeared in bodybuilding culture around 2016 and then spread through online communities before reaching everyday slang.

Who is using it?

Alex Beecroft, Collins’ managing director, said the choice shows how each generation leaves its mark on language. He credited Gen Z and Gen Alpha with turning the word into humorous slang, and joked that they are now “mogging” everyone else, ABC News reported.

How does Collins choose its words?

ABC News reported that Collins experts monitor a 27-billion-word database that draws on sources including social media. The annual list is meant to capture words that reflect the changing English language.

Which other words made the 2026 list?

Quin said much of the shortlist felt like one big mogging contest, with entries touching on transport, politics, climate, work and culture. The terms mentioned in the reports include:

• Carspreading: the tendency of manufacturers to build cars that are longer, wider and heavier. Quin noted that sport utility vehicles made up more than half of new car sales in 2025, which has made parking bays and country lanes tighter.
• Manchesterism: a political philosophy associated with Prime Minister Andy Burnham that centers on devolving regional power and pairing economic growth with social progress. The Guardian said Burnham revived the 19th-century term in a newspaper article in January, before replacing Keir Starmer as prime minister in July.
• Firewave: a term coined by Imperial College London researchers in 2025 for multiple wildfires breaking out over a short period during dry spells. ABC News described it as a series of urban wildfires in a short space of time.
• Ghost job: a position advertised by an employer with no intention of hiring anyone. The Guardian said a recent UK study found around a third of advertised roles were ghost jobs.
• Friendslop: a low-budget, independently produced multiplayer video game focused on social fun rather than high-end graphics.
• Fricy: a blend of “fruity” and “spicy” that reflects the popularity of products such as pineapple and mango hot sauces.
• Bixie: a hairstyle that mixes a bob with a pixie cut, which The Guardian said has recently been worn by Zendaya, Jessie Buckley and Helen Mirren.
• P(doom): shorthand for the estimated probability that artificial intelligence will cause the collapse of human civilization.

Why does it matter?

Word-of-the-year picks are a snapshot of how people talk and what they are talking about. This year’s list ranges from car sizes and job hunting to politics, wildfires and fears about artificial intelligence, and Collins says it reflects the pressures and trends that shaped everyday conversation in 2026.

Quin said that while 2026 was defined by competition and escalation, the vocabulary also showed how society adapted. In her view, some resilience and a little fun could be the key to winning through.

Around Prague, based on reporting by The Guardian, ABC News