“Maxxing,” a term derived from “maximising,” has been named Dictionary.com’s word of the year, reflecting its widespread adoption among younger generations as a versatile expression for optimising various aspects of life. Originally popularised on internet forums and social media, the suffix “-maxxing” is now used across diverse contexts, from health and lifestyle to personal development.
The term first emerged within online incel communities, where it described efforts to enhance physical attractiveness, often referred to as “looksmaxxing.” Over time, the usage expanded to include other forms of self-improvement, such as “stylemaxxing” and “personalitymaxxing,” indicating a broader cultural trend towards optimisation. Notably, the suffix has been appropriated by institutions such as the U.S. Department of Defense, which used the term “lethalitymaxxing” in a March report to describe increased military effectiveness.
On social media platforms like TikTok, “maxxing” has been adapted into various lifestyle trends. For example, users practice “fibremaxxing” to increase dietary fibre intake or “cozymaxxing” to enhance comfort during relaxation. Some young people describe themselves as “nonnamaxxing,” drawing inspiration from a more unhurried, traditional lifestyle akin to that of an Italian grandmother. Others engage in “weekendmaxxing” by filling their weekends with numerous activities.
Among the trends, 22-year-old influencer Anthony Gross has popularised “Catholicmaxxing,” aiming to guide young people exploring religious faith, which he says often helps participants find potential romantic partners.
Steve Johnson, director of lexicography for the Dictionary Media Group, highlighted the term’s significance in capturing a paradox of contemporary culture. He noted that “maxxing” resonates because it embodies the constant search for self-improvement while simultaneously acknowledging the exhaustion and sometimes absurdity of that pursuit.
The selection of “maxxing” followed an analysis of online search trends, social media activity, and news coverage. Other contenders for the 2026 word of the year included “affordability,” “data centre,” “odyssey,” and “unc,” a slang term from Generation Alpha referring to an out-of-touch older person. In previous years, “six, seven” and “demure” had been recognized as words of the year in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Linguists observing the term’s evolution note its rapid spread and change, underscoring the accelerated pace at which internet culture influences language. Vanessa Croft, a linguist, pointed out generational shifts in usage, with Gen Z and Generation Alpha abandoning terms before older groups, such as millennials and Gen X, have fully adopted them. This dynamic highlights the fluid and fast-moving nature of contemporary language shaped by digital communication.