'Mogging' tops 'firewave' as Collins' word of the year

The Collins English Dictionary has announced that "mogging," a word meaning to outshine someone, often in appearance, has been named word of the year for 2026. This triumph comes after "firewave" and "ghost jobs" were close contenders. According to the dictionary, mogging is a compliment that implies "the act of outshining or outperforming someone or something," and its popularity has surged on social media platforms over the past year.

The word is believed to have roots in the slang acronym AMOG (alpha male of the group), which originated in bodybuilding culture before being adopted by online communities with misogynistic views. However, in recent months, mogging has gained traction within mainstream conversation among Gen Alpha and Gen Z users, who use it to describe someone who looks more attractive, fashionable, or cooler than another.

The word's usage saw a significant 210 percent increase this year, according to the dictionary. Alex Beecroft, the managing director of Collins, expressed excitement about how Gen Z and Gen Alpha have embraced the term and transformed it into humorous slang, allowing them to "mog" the rest of us. While the word "mogging" took the top spot, other notable contenders included "carspreading" (referring to larger model vehicles), "ghost jobs" (advertised job postings without any intention to hire), "Manchesterism" (a political philosophy associated with Andy Burnham), and "friicy" (a food item that combines fruity and spicy flavors).

Interestingly, the list of contenders also included "firewave," which refers to multiple wildfires spreading over a short period, and "bixie," describing a haircut between a bob and a pixie cut. The dictionary's blog noted a recurring theme in 2026's top contenders: "In 2026, everything is surpassing something else: bigger cars (carspreading), hotter summers (firewave, hydration break), a politician who outmaneuvered a prime minister (Manchesterism)."

Last year, "vibe coding" was named the word of the year, referring to the use of artificial intelligence to communicate with machines in a more natural manner.