10 New Slang Terms You Might Not Know (But Probably Should)

Just when you think you’ve finally mastered the latest slang, along comes another batch of words that leave you scratching your head. Thanks to social media, seemingly ordinary terms can take on entirely new meanings practically overnight. And while some of these expressions have been around for years, others are relatively recent additions to Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s ever-expanding vocabulary. From “polyester” to “larping,” here are 10 slang terms worth knowing — and what they actually mean when the kids are saying them.

If someone under the age of 20 calls your outfit polyester, they’re probably not commenting on the fabric. The name of the synthetic material has become an internet insult to describe something cheap, artificial, or trying too hard to seem impressive. A carefully curated influencer lifestyle that looks suspiciously fake? That’s polyester. The term gained traction on TikTok in 2026, reflecting a growing skepticism toward anything that seems mass-produced or inauthentic.

Originally an acronym for “live-action role-playing,” “LARPing” traditionally involves dressing up and acting out fictional scenarios. Online, however, the word has taken on the more critical meaning of pretending to be someone you’re not. So someone posting photos of luxury cars they don’t actually own might be accused of LARPing.

If you’ve ever stood next to someone who made you feel completely overshadowed, consider yourself mogged. The term originated in online communities obsessed with physical appearance, where it was used to refer to someone who was noticeably more attractive than another person. Today, “mogging” has expanded to mean outshining someone in practically any way, whether it’s related to looks, style, confidence, or accomplishments.

The word “slop” has long described unappetizing food, but in the age of artificial intelligence, it has acquired a particularly modern connotation. AI slop is the endless stream of low-quality, mass-produced content flooding the internet, from bizarre AI-generated images to poorly written articles and nonsensical videos. If it looks like something a computer churned out with minimal human effort, there’s a good chance someone will call it slop.

Why settle for improving something when you can take it to the extreme? That’s the idea behind “-maxxing,” a suffix used to describe efforts to optimize practically anything. The expression grew out of “looksmaxxing,” which refers to attempts to improve physical appearance through extreme or even dangerous methods. But the internet has since embraced everything from sleepmaxxing to healthmaxxing. Sometimes the term is sincere; other times, it’s used to poke fun at our obsession with self-improvement.

Being cooked doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve spent too much time in the sun. In modern slang, it means you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or in serious trouble. If you forget to file your taxes on time, for example, you might be cooked. Same if you show up to work completely unprepared for a big meeting you’re supposed to lead. Confusingly, the related expression “let him cook” means “to give someone the chance to show what they can do,” which is almost the opposite. Context, as always, is everything.

The performative male is a very specific type of guy. Picture a man carrying a canvas tote bag, sipping matcha, and conspicuously reading feminist literature in public, and you have the idea behind this social media stereotype of a man whose carefully cultivated interests and appearance seem designed to impress rather than reflect his genuine personality. The term became a popular internet joke in 2025, with some people even organizing competitions to see who could best embody the stereotype.

Short for “uncle,” “unc” has become a playful way to address someone who’s getting old — or at least acts like it. Originally used as a familiar term of address in Black communities, the expression has taken on a broader meaning online, where younger people use it to tease anyone who seems out of touch with current trends.

A singer who seemingly appears out of nowhere and becomes an overnight sensation might find themselves accused of being an industry plant. The term refers to an artist or influencer whose success is presented as organic but is suspected of being secretly orchestrated by record labels or other powerful industry players. The pejorative is often used skeptically — and sometimes unfairly — to question whether someone’s success is genuine or manufactured.

Anyone who has spent time online has undoubtedly encountered the dreaded “404 Not Found” error message. That bit of internet terminology has inspired a slang expression of its own: Someone who’s 404-coded is confused, clueless, or mentally checked out, as though their brain has temporarily gone offline. Walking into a room and immediately forgetting why you went there is a classic 404-coded moment.