Key Facts

• Collins copywriter Rachel Quin said “mogging” likely came from “Amog,” a shortening of “alpha male of the group.”
• The term appeared in bodybuilding culture around 2016 before spreading through online communities, according to Quin.
• “Carspreading” describes manufacturers making cars longer, wider and heavier; Quin said SUVs accounted for more than half of new car sales in 2025.
• The shortlist included “Manchesterism,” described as a philosophy linked to devolving regional power and combining economic growth with social progress.
• “Firewave” refers to multiple wildfires breaking out over a short period during dry conditions.
• A “ghost job” is an advertised position for which the employer has no intention of hiring; the article cites a UK study finding about a third of advertised roles fit that description.
• Other shortlisted terms included “friendslop” for social-focused multiplayer indie games, “fricy” for fruity-spicy foods, “bixie” for a bob-pixie hairstyle, and “P(doom)” for an estimate of AI-related civilizational risk.