'Mogging', a slang term used to describe outshining, outperforming or upstaging someone or something, has been named Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year for 2026.
The word, widely used among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, has moved beyond online conversations into everyday language. According to Collins, its usage increased by 210 per cent in 2026, reflecting its growing popularity among younger generations.
Often used playfully or ironically, 'mogging' describes situations in which a person or thing appears superior to another by comparison.
According to Collins Dictionary, 'mogging' is believed to have originated from the abbreviation AMOG, meaning 'alpha male of the group'.
The term emerged around 2016 in bodybuilding culture, where it was initially used as a noun to describe the most physically dominant man in a gym.
It later evolved into a verb and gained traction in online communities associated with the manosphere before becoming part of mainstream slang.
By 2026, its meaning had expanded beyond physical appearance or dominance.
The word can be used when someone's homemade sourdough turns out better than another person's attempt.
Collins notes that the expression is now largely used in a humorous and ironic manner.
Collins Dictionary monitors language trends through its 27-billion-word Collins Corpus, which draws information from various media sources, including social media.
According to a BBC report, Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said the dictionary's experts examine how frequently words appear and analyse usage patterns to identify significant linguistic developments.
Collins, one of the UK's major dictionary publishers, uses these observations to compile its annual selection of notable words.In 2025, Collins selected 'vibe coding' as its Word of the Year.
The expression refers to creating applications or websites by describing the desired outcome to artificial intelligence rather than manually writing programming code.
(With inputs from Collins Dictionary | BBC)