‘Mogging’ is Collins’ word of the year, but what does it mean?

Key Points:

• The Collins English Dictionary has named "mogging," a slang term popular among Gen Z and Gen Alpha meaning to outshine or outperform someone, as the 2026 Word of the Year after a 210% surge in usage.
• Originally derived from "AMOG" (alpha male of the group) and used in bodybuilding to describe dominance, "mogging" has evolved over a decade into a verb meaning to outdo others in various social contexts.
• Collins lexicographers track billions of words annually and noted that "mogging" exemplifies how younger generations shape language with humor and creativity.
• Other shortlisted words included "firewave," describing clusters of wildfires, "hydration break," a pause for drinks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and "Manchesterism," a political philosophy linked to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s regional power agenda.
• Andy Burnham himself made headlines by overtaking former Labour leader Keir Starmer, an example of real-life "mogging" in British politics this year.