Collins Dictionary names mogging as word of the year for 2026

Collins Dictionary has named the slang term mogging as its word of the year for 2026, BBC News and the Irish Times reported. The word means to outshine, outperform, or upstage another person or thing. [1][2]

According to the Irish Times, usage of the word increased by 210 per cent in 2026 as it moved into mainstream language. It is used in a playful and ironic way and has become a part of everyday conversation among Generation Z and Generation Alpha. [2]

BBC News noted that mogging is one of 10 words highlighted in the annual list. Lexicographers selected the terms by monitoring the 27-billion-word Collins Corpus, which tracks media sources and social media to find notable new vocabulary, the Irish Times reported. [1][2]

The term has roots in the online manosphere, according to the Irish Times. Looksmaxxing is another self-improvement practice originating in incel forums that focuses on maximizing physical attractiveness. [2][5]