The term has been popularized by Gen Z and Gen Alpha in 2026

NEED TO KNOW

• “Mogging” has been named the Collins English Dictionary’s 2026 word of the year
• The Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang term saw a 210% increase in usage this year
• Other shortlisted terms include “carspreading,” “ghost job,” and “friendslop”

The Collins English Dictionary has named “mogging” as its word of the year.

The U.K. dictionary publisher made the announcement on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The term, coined by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, means “to outperform or outshine someone or something else,” making the other party appear inferior, according to a press release.

“This fast-growing slang word is increasingly used by both Gen Z and Gen Alpha in a playful and ironic way when someone is upstaged,” Collins English Dictionary said. “With a 210% increase in usage in 2026, ‘mogging’ has firmly entered mainstream language this year, becoming widely used online and a part of everyday conversation among younger generations.”

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“Mogging” has been around for a decade and derives from the phrase AMOG (Alpha Male of the Group). It was initially used as a noun in bodybuilding culture for the most physically dominant man in the gym, according to a blog post by Collins English Dictionary. The phrase later developed into a verb adopted by the manosphere.

“Fast forward to 2026 and it’s everywhere. Teenagers mog elite athletes, a new video game mogs an old favourite, and your friend’s sourdough mogs the loaf you spent all weekend proving,” Collins English Dictionary said. 

“The selection of “mogging’ as Collins’ Word of the Year shows how each generation leaves its mark on language,” Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said in a statement. “It’s a great example of how Gen Z and Gen Alpha have adopted a word and turned it into humorous slang, making the language their own and ‘mogging’ the rest of us!”’

Also included in the shortlist was “carspreading,” modelled on the familiar term “manspreading,” which refers to when manufacturers build cars that are far wider, longer and heavier than other vehicles with every new model. The popularity of the word comes as SUVs have made up over half of car sales in the U.K., per Collins English Dictionary.

“Firewave” was also added to the shortlist. This describes the evident effects of global warming, when multiple wildfires occur over a short period of time, typically in concentrated residential areas, towns and cities, due to long spells of hot weather. 

Other shortlisted words include “ghost job,” which means when an employer posts a job advert with no intention of hiring anyone, and “hydration break,” a term famously used at the 2026 World Cup that allows contestants to pause a sporting event to drink fluids.

“Friendslop” was also considered. This term is used in gaming culture to describe a low-budget game designed for friends to play together rather than for its production value.

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