Words of the Year 2026
What dictionaries have chosen and what the age has left behind in language
For me, this is one of the most fascinating times of the year. On 25 October, both Dictionary.com and Collins Dictionary announced their "Words of the Year" for 2026. The words that we add to dictionaries can be highly significant. This is because they reflect our culture on both a local and global scale. So, let's take a look at what these words mean and why they were chosen!
First, Dictionary.com's selection. There are five words in total. The winner was chosen from the shortlist. First, let’s look at the other four.
Affordability: This describes whether the price of a product, including essential expenses such as housing, food, healthcare, transport and childcare, is reasonable. The term can also be used to highlight the general issue of high prices rather than referring to an individual purchase. In short, economic turmoil is putting people of all ages under strain globally and forcing them to consider whether prices are affordable. Although it was originally a US-focused term, it has clearly become a shared global concern.
Data Center: Data centers are not a new concept. They are facilities that have long existed to support the internet, cloud services, digital storage, and online services. However, they are frequently in the news these days. This is a consequence of the “unstoppable” rise of artificial intelligence. This developing technology consumes a great deal of power. Consequently, new sites are being sought and construction is ongoing. As these facilities generate a lot of heat and noise, they are usually located in cold countries/climates or on the outskirts of cities. Nevertheless, data centers located close to residential areas can significantly disrupt local residents' daily lives.
Odyssey: Although it generally means “epic”, its association with Homer has grown stronger. And the reason for this today is also well known: Christopher Nolan’s latest film. Indeed, the film has had a significant impact, offering a fresh perspective on mythology and generating intense sales and readership of such literary works. It has also had an impact on the innovative direction of the film industry and the political and cultural dimensions that often remain in the background. This significant contribution appears to be precisely why it was chosen. Dictionary.com has also cited two other high-profile films, Backrooms and Obsession, as examples. The table below may help to clarify this.
Unc: Although it sounds unusual, we all know what it means. It’s short for “uncle”. However, it has come to be associated with being old-fashioned and out of touch with the language and culture of young people. On social media, it is often used in this dated sense.. After all, contemporary generations have coined their own abbreviations, idioms and words, and imbued them with new meanings, thanks to shared cultural spaces such as the internet and social media.
Now it’s time for the winner of 2026! This year, Dictionary.com has deemed it appropriate to select the word “maxxing”.
It’s actually a kind of hyperbolic expression. As you might have guessed, it derives from “maximum”. It's a term relating to taking something to the highest level. You could think of it as achieving something or improving a situation. The most common example is “looksmaxxing”, which was also featured in the Collins Dictionary in 2024. In this context, it describes someone's appearance and whether they are considered handsome, beautiful or attractive. The desire to improve everything, making it more beautiful, efficient, and successful, is creating its own language.
As of 3 November, Collins Dictionary has added ten new words to its dictionary this year. If I’m not mistaken, they select a similar number each year. I’ll start with the nine words on the shortlist and reveal the winner at the end, as usual.
The first of these is “bixie”. Apparently, it's a type of haircut. The term has been coined because the hairstyle is halfway between two different styles.
Next up is “carspreading”. This term describes the production of long, heavy, wide vehicles by car manufacturers. As this is not really my area of interest, I found it a rather bland choice. However, both bixies and these ever-widening vehicles are likely to have become fashionable. Or are they both just a form of propaganda? Are these designs intended to encourage us to purchase such vehicles and normalise their production?
Unfortunately, another type of disaster is encountered all too frequently, both here and around the world. “Firewave” describes the occurrence of multiple forest fires within a short timeframe, which can affect residential areas and towns too. I suspect it has been used with urban fires in mind.
“Fricy” is also a coined word, much like bixie. Apparently, it can be used to describe fruity and spicy foods. I’m not sure if such a term was necessary, but it doesn't sound particularly interesting to me. Still, we won't know until we try it. I wonder if it was pioneered by people on social media who experiment with and share unusual flavours?
We’re almost halfway there! We're continuing with “friendslop”. Yes, it’s a portmanteau of two words. I don’t know where the word comes from, but in this article, I’ll explain what it brings to mind for me. Let’s start by breaking it down. Everyone knows the first part, but let’s briefly touch on the word “slop”. It actually exists and has many meanings. However, I believe its usage here has been revitalised by the development of artificial intelligence. You may have come across the term “AI slop”. This is an expression used to describe low-quality digital content generated by artificial intelligence, and it carries a negative connotation. The usage here struck me as more neutral, though. At least, that was my initial impression. I've been following this closely, and there's been a real surge in the production of cutting-edge, AI-powered games, as well as the replication of existing ones, over the last six months. Apparently, if you find or create low-budget or no-budget games to play with friends, what you’re doing is friendslop. Without considering artificial intelligence, we could include fun activities such as board games or group quiz nights that foster friendship and camaraderie. This could well be considered one of the most up-to-date terms. I was actually planning to write about this very topic. Alongside high-budget productions that are realistic and technically flawless, the fact that simple games which prioritise fun when played with friends are forming their own culture is a significant phenomenon in the gaming industry.
A “ghost job” is another reflection of our economic and social reality. Initially, I found the concept difficult to grasp. It turns out that it refers to a job that is advertised by an employer who has no intention of actually hiring anyone to do it. Perhaps it is a sham practice designed to create the impression that the company is actively recruiting. Just as the internet is full of bots, companies may create the impression that they are looking for staff in order to demonstrate that they have a steady flow of work. Of course, this is just my assumption, but the existence of the term itself highlights a major problem.
One example that really surprised me was when I first came across it. This type of break normally exists, but it has become more visible, presumably because it will be implemented in all matches at the 2026 World Cup. A “hydration break” is a break taken to drink water and rest. As football is one of the world's most popular sports, this term must have evolved to generate discussion and attract attention. I have no idea where the term came from or what its purpose is. But plenty of adverts are shown during the break.
We've reached the final two! I'll announce the winner shortly. Next up is “Manchesterism”. I think this is partly a local preference, given that the dictionary is UK-centric. Let's look at the definition: “a political philosophy, associated with British politician Andy Burnham, which involves devolution of power to the regions and seeks to combine economic growth with social progress.” The dictionary also states that the term was used in the 19th century to describe “the political and economic philosophy of the Manchester School, whose members advocated free trade and laissez faire economics”. It seems that the same term has been used to describe different political approaches in two different centuries. I don't think there's any need to add anything further. Perhaps it is genuinely used on a global scale within the field of economics. I have no knowledge of or opinion on that matter.
What on earth is “P(doom)”? It seems that words and symbols are merging over time. What will come next? Cl!mate Cat@str0phe, perhaps? Joking aside, we are faced with a highly topical technology-based choice. This expression is actually more of a formula than a word. It is used to estimate the probability of artificial intelligence causing the collapse of civilisation. It seems as though there is a kind of P (possibility) value preceding the word “doom”. Some prominent figures in key roles, such as CEOs, academics, and engineers, have started quoting their P(doom) values. However, these values vary widely from person to person, and there is no common consensus. As I hadn’t come across the term before, I was curious. When I looked it up on Wikipedia, I saw that the relevant article was created on 19 June 2024. It cites an article written by Sean Thomas on 4 March 2024 as a source. (I’m not suggesting that the concept was first used here.) Those who are interested can access the article here. If you’d like to read similar articles, you can find my pieces on the Doomsday Clock here and here; I find them very similar in nature. I plan to write about this again in February 2027.
Let’s now explain the “Word of the Year 2026” chosen by Collins Dictionary. Their choice was also “Mogging”.
You might be wondering what “maxxing” and “mogging” are. To be honest, I’ve got into the habit of keeping track of the kinds of expressions that are used frequently on various social media platforms each year. I’m trying to understand how the younger generation communicates, and how global events are reflected in digital culture. These expressions can be sensible or nonsensical, and they can take on different forms locally and globally, depending on language, culture, individual circumstances, the economy, and politics. I realise that changes in language can occur faster than ever before and spread quickly. Every week, communication can be driven by a new meme (a digital visual narrative) or phrase. I’m not talking about a complete transformation of language, but the effects are clearly visible. This is because social media compels, persuades or forces people of all ages and from all countries to adapt in some way. In other words, the existence of the internet and social media has shaped our discourse in this way over the last few decades. These are precisely the reasons behind it all.
Mogging is also becoming a prominent feature of the online language used by Generations Z and Alpha in particular. It describes the act of outshining someone or something in terms of performance, status, self-confidence, or any other aspect, in a playful, ironic, or patronising manner. I would argue that it has emerged due to the urge to show off, possess the best things and outperform others; urges which are magnified by social media. However, this urge has always existed because it is a fundamentally human trait and cannot be attributed solely to specific generations. Nevertheless, in a rapidly evolving world, keeping up and staying current can be important. This can also lead to increased competitiveness.
Finally, I should mention that Collins Dictionary has published a blog post on this topic. If you would like to read it and explore different perspectives, you can access it here.
I touched upon this topic at the start of November, but other well-known dictionaries, such as Oxford, Cambridge and Merriam-Webster, also select their “words of the year”. You will see their choices in the coming days. Those who are curious should keep an eye out! It will be interesting to see if we come across similar words or if they're completely different.
To be honest, I find this topic important, entertaining, thought-provoking, highly debatable and educational. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this kind of social and cultural initiative, which captures a snapshot of the era we live in. Finally, if you had to choose a word to represent this year, what would it be? And why?
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