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

By Charlotte Reck, CNN

(CNN) — “Mogging,” a tongue-in-cheek term jovially used by members of Gen-Z and Gen Alpha to suggest an outperforming or outshining of someone or something, has been crowned 2026’s word of the year by Collins English Dictionary.

Staving off tough competition with inimitable rizz, internet slang “mogging” seized the top spot after a staggering 210% surge in usage in 2026, Collins said in a press release Tuesday.

But this is not the word of the year’s first rodeo. In fact, “mogging” has been in circulation for around a decade, but its meaning has shifted throughout this time, according to a separate blog published by Collins.

Believed to be born from the acronym “AMOG,” or “alpha male of the group,” it was previously used as a noun in bodybuilding culture to describe the strongest, most physically dominant man in a gym, the blog says. Later, it was transformed into a verb and briefly adopted by the manosphere.

In the last 12 months, “mogging” has had something of a glow-up, coming to define the act of outdoing.

Were you proud of the wonky homemade cupcakes you brought to the dinner party until your friend rocked up with a three-tier masterpiece? You’ve been mogged.

Had you been feeling pretty good about your thrifted outfit until you stood by the effortlessly cool commuter donning designer clobber on the subway? You’ve been mogged.

Collins lexicographers monitor an astonishing 27 billion words annually. Not only do the experts track how frequently a word is used, but they also analyze patterns of use, managing director Alex Beecroft said in the release.

“The selection of ‘mogging’ as Collins’ Word of the Year shows how each generation leaves its mark on language,” Beecroft said.

“It’s a great example of how Gen Z and Gen Alpha have adopted a word and turned it into humorous slang, making the language their own and ‘mogging’ the rest of us.”

So, which words were mogged for the coveted title this year?

Close contenders

As they often do, many of the shortlisted words have grown from a response to an event that dominated culture or current events.

“Firewave” refers to several wildfires occurring during a short spell in town and cities after sustained periods of hot, dry weather.

Meanwhile, “hydration break” dropped into the global lexicon during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where soccer games were punctuated with pauses for players to take a drink. Organizers said the new habit was to keep athletes hydrated amid the sweltering heat across host nations US, Mexico and Canada, but fans scoffed at what they said were ad breaks in disguise.

And British politics had its moment this year, as “Manchesterism” claimed a place on the shortlist. Referring to a political philosophy spearheaded by UK prime minister and former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, “Manchesterism” involves regional power devolution and ties economic growth to social progress.

But Burnham has been responsible for a little “mogging” himself this year, managing to nudge former Labour leader Keir Starmer out of the top job and taking the role himself.

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