Collins Dictionary selects 'mogging' as 2026 word of the year

Collins Dictionary announced on Tuesday that it has selected "mogging" as its word of the year for 2026. The entry defines the term as a slang verb meaning to outshine a person or an object.

Dictionary experts reported that usage of the word increased by 210% during the current calendar year. They noted that young people typically use the term in a playful and ironic context when someone is upstaged. The lexicographers said the term has entered mainstream language.

Alex Beecroft, the managing director at Collins, stated that the selection demonstrates how each generation leaves its mark on language. He observed that Gen Z and Gen Alpha have adopted the word and turned it into humorous slang. Beecroft said this process allows those groups to make the language their own while "mogging" the rest of us.

The dictionary maintains a 27-billion-word database to identify these annual trends. This data draws from various sources, including social media platforms. The 2026 list includes several other new and notable entries that reflect recent cultural shifts.

"Firewaves" is defined as a series of urban wildfires occurring in a short space of time. "P(doom)" appears as an estimation of the probability that artificial intelligence will bring about the collapse of human civilization. The list also features "carspreading," which describes the tendency of manufacturers to build cars that are longer, wider, and heavier.

Other new terms include "fricy," a description for trendy food or drinks that are both fruity and spicy. "Ghost jobs" refers to positions that are advertised without any intention to appoint anyone. "Friendslop" describes a type of low-budget, independently produced video game played among friends.