What does mogging mean? Collins just made it 2026's word of the year
Collins English Dictionary has named mogging, slang for outshining someone, its 2026 word of the year. Here's what it means, where it comes from and the other words on the shortlist.
Collins English Dictionary has named "mogging" its word of the year for 2026, ahead of "firewave" and "ghost jobs", The Citizen reports.
What does mogging mean?
Collins defines mogging as "the act of outshining or outperforming someone or something". In everyday use, if someone says you're mogging them, they mean you look better, dress better or simply come across as cooler. It's usually meant as a compliment or a joke between friends (The Citizen).
Usage of the word jumped 210% this year, according to Collins (The Citizen).
Where does the word come from?
It is believed to come from AMOG, short for "alpha male of the group", a term from bodybuilding forums. It was later picked up in manosphere and incel online spaces, which often push misogynist ideas. Over the past few months Gen Z and Gen Alpha have taken it mainstream and turned it into playful slang (The Citizen).
Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said the word shows how younger people have taken a term and made the language "their own" (The Citizen).
Which other words made the 2026 shortlist?
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Firewave | Several wildfires spreading over a short period |
| Ghost jobs | Job ads posted with no real plan to hire |
| Carspreading | New car models getting bigger every time |
| Manchesterism | The politics linked to UK prime minister Andy Burnham |
| Fricy | Food that is both fruity and spicy |
| Bixie | A haircut between a bob and a pixie cut |
Source: The Citizen
Collins said most of this year's list shares one theme: things surpassing other things, from bigger cars to hotter summers (The Citizen).
What was last year's word of the year?
It was "vibe coding", which means using artificial intelligence to build software by describing what you want instead of writing the code yourself (The Citizen).
FAQ
What does mogging mean?
Collins defines it as the act of outshining or outperforming someone or something, usually in appearance.
Is mogging a compliment?
In current Gen Z and Gen Alpha use it is mostly a playful compliment, saying someone looks cooler or better than others.
What was Collins word of the year in 2025?
Vibe coding, meaning using AI to build software by describing what you want.