Collins Dictionary Names ‘Mogging’ as Word of the Year 2026
Collins Dictionary has chosen ‘mogging’ as its word of the year for 2026. The slang word means to shine or outdo someone else. It has become popular amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha individuals and has seen a 210% increase in usage throughout 2026. It is picked every year to reflect changing trends within our language due to the influence of social media, online culture and younger generations.
An online slang word meaning to outshine, overshadow or outdo someone.
It is often used jokingly or ironically to show when someone has stood out due to their looks, confidence, presence or performance.
The word has become increasingly popular amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha individuals and has seen a 210% increase in usage throughout 2026, according to Collins Dictionary.
“This choice shows how younger generations take existing phrases and adapt them into popular slang,” said Alex Beecroft, Managing Director at Collins Dictionary.
Alongside ‘mogging’, there are many new and interesting words on the list to reflect changes in technology, jobs, lifestyle and online culture.
| Word | Meaning |
| Firewaves | Multiple urban wildfires occurring in a short amount of time. |
| P(doom) | An estimation of the chances of artificial intelligence causing a collapse in human civilisation. |
| Carspreading | The trend of car manufacturers making cars longer, wider and heavier. |
| Fricy | Trendy foods or drinks with a sweet and spicy flavour. |
| Ghost jobs | Job postings with no real intention to recruit. |
| Friendslop | A cheap independent video game for playing with friends. |
Collins Dictionary choose their word of the year by tracking changes in English language usage.
Their experts look at their 27 billion word database, using various sources such as social media. This helps them identify new words.
The word of the year reflects words that became prominent, to show the changes in society, technology, culture and communication.
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