Collins names ‘mogging’ its word of the year for 2026

Collins has chosen “mogging” as its word of the year for 2026, recognising an expression used when someone or something outperforms or outshines another. The selection heads a shortlist that draws on developments in transport, politics, the environment, work and entertainment.

Writing for Collins, copywriter Rachel Quin explained that mogging involves making others appear inferior through looks, confidence or status. The term is thought to be a shortened form of “Amog”, meaning “alpha male of the group”. According to Quin, it surfaced in bodybuilding culture around 2016 and subsequently circulated through online communities before becoming everyday slang by 2026.

Its use now extends beyond comparisons between people. Quin illustrated how the expression can apply equally to teenagers surpassing elite athletes, a video game eclipsing an older favourite or one home baker producing a better loaf than another. She suggested that competition and escalation also connected many of the shortlisted expressions.

Among those entries is “carspreading”, which refers to manufacturers making vehicles progressively longer, wider and heavier. Quin said sport utility vehicles accounted for more than half of new car sales in 2025, leaving less room in parking spaces and on country lanes.

The political selection includes “Manchesterism”, the philosophy associated with prime minister Andy Burnham, combining regional devolution with economic growth and social progress. Quin said Burnham brought the 19th-century expression back into use in a newspaper article in January, before succeeding Keir Starmer as prime minister in July. Supporters hope his approach in Greater Manchester can succeed nationally, while critics question its meaning.

Environmental language features “firewave”, coined by Imperial College London researchers in 2025 for multiple wildfires occurring within a short period during dry conditions. “Hydration breaks” also appear, following their mandatory introduction at every match of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada because of climate conditions.

Workplace concerns are represented by “ghost job”, an advertised vacancy that an employer has no intention of filling. Quin cited a recent UK study that found roughly a third of advertised positions fell into that category. Gaming contributes “friendslop”, describing inexpensive multiplayer indie games that prioritise shared enjoyment over sophisticated graphics.

Other selections include “fricy”, combining fruity and spicy flavours, and “bixie”, a blend of bob and pixie hairstyles recently worn by Zendaya, Jessie Buckley and Helen Mirren. “P(doom)” expresses the percentage probability that artificial intelligence will bring about the collapse of human civilisation. Quin said the shortlist reflected both the year’s competitive pressures and the ways people adapted to them.