Language trends: Collins picks 'mogging' as 2026 word of the year
Usage of the slang term spiked by 210 percent this year, according to dictionary analysts.
By Olivia Barnes ·
Collins Dictionary selected "mogging" as its word of the year on Tuesday.
The term describes the act of outshining a person or thing. Experts note that young speakers use the word in a playful or ironic manner when someone gets upstaged. Data shows a 210 percent jump in usage throughout 2026.
Alex Beecroft, the managing director at Collins, explained that the selection reflects how each generation impacts language. He stated that Gen Z and Gen Alpha adopted the term and transformed it into humorous slang. Beecroft added that these groups are making the language their own while "mogging" the rest of the population.
The dictionary monitors a 27-billion-word database to identify these trends. The collection draws from various sources, including social media platforms.
Several other new entries appeared on the 2026 list. "Firewaves" defines a series of urban wildfires occurring in a short period. "P(doom)" estimates the likelihood that artificial intelligence causes the collapse of human civilization. "Carspreading" describes the manufacturing trend of building vehicles that are longer, wider, and heavier. "Fricy" refers to trendy food or drinks that combine fruity and spicy flavors.
The list also includes "ghost jobs," which are positions advertised without any intent to hire. "Friendslop" describes low-budget video games produced independently and played among friends.
Source: KNBC
