By Sohaib Shams
Collins Dictionary has selected "mogging" as its 2026 word of the year, highlighting a slang term meaning to outshine someone or something. The announcement was made Tuesday by dictionary experts who noted the word is most often used by young people in a playful and ironic way when someone is upstaged.
Usage surges 210%
The term saw a 210% increase in usage during 2026, moving from niche internet slang into mainstream language. Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said the choice shows how each generation leaves its mark on language, describing it as a humorous adoption by Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Other notable entries
The annual list, drawn from a 27-billion-word database monitoring social media and other sources, includes several other new terms. "Firewaves" refers to a series of urban wildfires occurring in a short period, while "P(doom)" estimates the probability that artificial intelligence could cause human civilization's collapse.
Carspreading, fricy, ghost jobs and friendslop
Additional entries reflect broader cultural trends: "carspreading" describes manufacturers building longer, wider and heavier vehicles; "fricy" denotes trendy food or drinks that are both fruity and spicy; "ghost jobs" are positions advertised with no intention to hire; and "friendslop" refers to low-budget, independently produced video games played among friends.
