Dictionary.com Names ‘Maxxing’ Its 2026 Word of the Year

Dictionary.com named “maxxing” its 2026 Word of the Year, recognizing an internet slang term used for pursuing an activity to the fullest or optimizing an aspect of life. The word can stand alone or serve as a suffix, as in sleepmaxxing, proteinmaxxing and looksmaxxing, and is used for both earnest self-improvement and jokes about everyday routines. The dictionary’s selection process considers search trends, social media and news coverage, according to Steve Johnson, director of lexicography for Dictionary Media Group, which operates Dictionary.com. Johnson said “maxxing” stood out because it appeared across many domains. Its uses range from fitness and wellness to work and leisure, including “tokenmaxxing,” a term for extensive use of artificial intelligence tools, and “cozymaxxing,” which gives a name to optimizing comfort. Dictionary.com reported that in August 2026, use of “maxxing” in digital media was about 19 times its monthly average in 2025. The figure is the dictionary’s comparison; the underlying dataset and calculation method were not detailed in the reports describing it. The word’s spread has also brought the suffix into mainstream conversation beyond its earlier...