Every year, researchers at Collins English Dictionary compile a list of new words that “reflect our ever evolving language and the preoccupations of those who use it”. With the influence of Gen Z and Gen Alpha, new words are being invented faster than ever before.
Words on the 2026 shortlist include ‘firewave’, referring to multiple wildfires that spread over a short period of time, ‘bixie’, which is a haircut between a bob and a pixie cut, and ‘fricy’ describing foods that are both fruity and spicy.
But it was ‘mogging’ that took the top prize. According to the dictionary, mogging is a compliment meaning “the act of outshining or outperforming someone or something”. It is believed to be rooted in the slang acronym AMOG , which was associated with bodybuilding culture before being adopted by manosphere and incel spaces that often promote misogynist beliefs.
More recently, however, the word has been picked up by younger generations and is being used on social media to playfully describe someone looking more attractive, fashionable or cooler than another. The word saw a 210% increase in usage this year.
So do you agree with Collins’ choice? Has ‘mogging’ reentered your daily vocabulary, or do you think another word deserves the title?
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