Collins names ‘mogging’ its 2026 word of the year

Collins English Dictionary has named “mogging,” slang for outshining or upstaging someone, its 2026 word of the year, citing a reported 210% rise in usage during the year. The dictionary said its lexicographers consider how often words are used and examine patterns of use when selecting the annual choice. The reported increase comes from Collins; the accounts do not provide underlying usage counts or a comparison baseline. “Mogging” is commonly used to describe one person or thing outperforming another, particularly in appearance, though its meaning can depend on context. Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said Gen Z and Gen Alpha had adopted the term as humorous slang, reflecting how generations shape language. The term’s earlier associations are less definitively established. Accounts link it to the acronym AMOG, meaning “Alpha Male of the Group,” and to bodybuilding forums and online communities associated with the manosphere and incel culture. The descriptions qualify those connections rather than establishing a single definitive origin. In current usage, the word is often presented as a playful putdown or compliment. Other contenders on Collins’ shortlist included...