Collins names ‘mogging’ 2026 Word of the Year after 210% usage rise

Collins Dictionary named “mogging” its 2026 Word of the Year, citing a 210% rise in usage and its popularity among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. The slang describes outshining or outperforming someone and is often used playfully, especially about appearance. Its origins are more troubling: the term is linked to “AMOG,” or “alpha male of the group,” and 2010s manosphere forums, where it referred to asserting dominance or surpassing others in sexual desirability. Its mainstream adoption has broadened that meaning into a general term for upstaging, prompting discussion about how slang can shed or obscure its subcultural roots.