Collins Names Mogging Word of the Year 2026
The bodybuilding slang term mogging has been chosen as Collins English dictionary word of the year for 2026, beating various AI and climate entries.
The expression mogging has officially been crowned Collins English dictionary word of the year for 2026, prevailing over a variety of entries concerning artificial intelligence and the climate crisis. Writing for Collins, copywriter Rachel Quin explained that the term signifies outperforming or outshining someone or something else.
Quin noted that the vocabulary item describes making an individual, object, or situation appear inferior regarding appearance, status, or confidence. Believed to have started as a shortening of Amog, representing the alpha male of a group, the expression initially emerged within bodybuilding circles around 2016 before gaining widespread traction across online platforms.
By 2026, the phrase had permeated everyday conversation. According to Quin, examples range from teenagers outshining elite athletes and new video games surpassing older favorites, to homemade sourdough outperforming other loaves. When someone makes you look somewhat inadequate by comparison, you have experienced the concept of mogging.
Quin observed that the shortlisted terms for the year resembled a massive contest of this nature, spanning transport, culture, politics, and employment. In the transport sector, carspreading highlighted the trend of manufacturers producing larger vehicles, with sports utility vehicles accounting for more than half of new car sales in 2025. Political discussions featured Manchesterism, a term revived by Prime Minister Andy Burnham relating to regional power devolution. Environmental concerns brought forward terms like firewave for frequent wildfires during dry spells, alongside mandatory hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup matches. The job market saw ghost job included to describe listings by employers with no intention to hire.
Bodybuilding slang meaning to outshine others has beaten artificial intelligence and climate entries as the top term.
Why it matters
The selection of these linguistic trends highlights how contemporary culture, technology, and environmental shifts shape everyday communication and social interactions. As terms reflecting modern pressures and societal adaptation enter mainstream lexicons, they offer insight into prevailing public anxieties and lifestyle changes globally.