‘Mogging’ named Collins’ word of the year

Collins English Dictionary has named “mogging” its word of the year, recognising slang that means playfully outshining or upstaging someone. The publisher says the word’s use rose by 210% in 2026.

The term is popular among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, according to Collins. It often refers to someone looking better than another person, but can also describe outperforming or dominating them. Depending on the context, it can be either a compliment or a put-down.

The word is often traced to “AMOG”, short for “Alpha Male of the Group”. It has been associated with bodybuilding forums, the manosphere and incel communities, but Collins says it has since entered more mainstream use.

“Mogging” also appears in looksmaxxing communities, where people exchange advice on maximising their physical attractiveness. The related term “maxxing” was named Dictionary.com’s word of the year for 2026, after the site reported a sharp rise in its use online.