Collins names 'mogging' its 2026 word of the year as use jumps 210 percent
The British dictionary publisher Collins has chosen 'mogging' as its word of the year for 2026. The term is now widely used as popular slang among young people of Generation Z and Generation Alpha.
Collins said use of the word rose by 210 percent in 2026 alone. The publisher selects its word of the year by collecting data on word use and popularity from sources including social media.
'Mogging' is used to mean outdoing someone in a contest — overshadowing another person through one's appearance or performance. In everyday life it is also used jokingly, sometimes as praise and sometimes as a gentle tease.
Alex Beecroft, managing director of the Collins English Dictionary, said the specialists who pick the word analyse not only how often a word is used but also usage trends and the direction in which the language is changing. In his view, the choice of 'mogging' shows how a generation leaves its own mark on the language.
Beecroft said Generation Z and Generation Alpha have taken up the word as a fun slang term, given it a new meaning and established its use in the language on their own terms.
Competing with 'mogging' this year was the phrase 'hydration break'. It entered discussion during the 2026 men's FIFA World Cup, when matches in the heat of the United States, Mexico and Canada were stopped at set times so players could drink water.
The previous year, in 2025, Collins chose 'vibe coding' as its word of the year. That term describes creating computer code by giving instructions in ordinary language with the help of artificial intelligence.
