'Mogging' has been named Collins English Dictionary’s word of the year. The slang term is used playfully to describe outshining, outperforming or upstaging someone or something, often in terms of appearance.
Collins says the word’s usage grew by 210% in 2026. It has spread among members of Generations Z and Alpha, both online and in everyday conversation, and is now used as either a compliment or a put-down depending on the context.
Alex Beecroft, managing director of Collins, said the dictionary’s lexicographers examine how often words are used and analyse usage patterns to identify linguistic trends. He said the choice reflects how each generation leaves its mark on language, adding that younger people had adopted the term and made it their own.
The word is often linked to the acronym AMOG, meaning “Alpha Male of the Group”. It has also been associated with bodybuilding forums in the mid-2010s, as well as the manosphere and incel communities. More recently, it has appeared in looksmaxxing groups, where people share advice on maximising physical attractiveness.
Other terms on Collins’ 10-word shortlist included “ghost job”, a position advertised by an employer with no intention of hiring, and “p(doom)”, an estimate of the probability of an AI-aided collapse of civilisation. “Hydration break” was also included, as was “Manchesterism”, a term associated with Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the devolution of power to the regions alongside economic growth and social progress.
Collins, one of the UK’s major dictionary publishers, draws on sources including social media to track changes in English. Its 2025 word of the year was “vibe coding”, the practice of creating an app or website by describing it to artificial intelligence rather than writing the code manually.
Sources: BBC News UK.