“Maxxing” is Dictionary.com’s 2026 Word of the Year

October 26, 2026 / 8:17 AM EDT / CBS News

From AI chatbots to lifestyle trends, the concept of optimizing one's life came sharply into focus in 2026. That's why Dictionary.com picked "maxxing," a reflection of our increasingly online society, as its latest Word of the Year.

"Maxxing (sometimes -maxxing) is short for 'maximizing,'" says Dictionary.com. "This trendy term can be used on its own or added to the end of any word to convey you're doing something to the fullest or optimizing it as much as possible."

The word was chosen following an analysis of search data, social media trends and news stories "to capture a society that's deeply online and focused on optimization in all forms," Dictionary.com says.

"Maxxing" rose through the cultural lexicons of Gen Z and Gen Alpha quickly, and now works as a noun, verb, adjective and adverb all at once. Leveling up your workout routine? "Gymmaxxing." Your personal care practices? "Healthmaxxing," an umbrella term that covers numerous subgenres, including "proteinmaxxing" and "fibermaxxing."

"Maxxing really stood out this year because not only was it everywhere, in all types of articles, but it crossed a lot of different domains," said Steve Johnson, the director of lexicography…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/