How 'mogging' went from toxic term to mainstream

bbc news Nov 3, 2026 17:52 1 min read 1 reads

Mogging, named Collins English Dictionary's word of the year, was once the preserve of the manosphere but has become part of everyday discourse.

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Watch: Mogging? Here's what Collins' word of the year means

ByMichael Sheils McNamee and Ella Kipling

Published10 minutes ago

"Mogging" has seen its usage soar over the past year, with the Gen Z slang term being named Collins English Dictionary's word of the year.

Finding its origins in the online language of the manosphere, an online community built around hyper-masculine and often misogynistic content, the term broke out into the mainstream this year, being used by celebrities and the media.