mosh

American  

[mosh] / mɒʃ /

verb (used without object)

Slang.

1. to engage in a form of frenzied, violent dancing; slam-dance.

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mosh British  

/ mɒʃ /

noun

1. a type of dance, performed to loud rock music, in which people throw themselves about in a frantic and violent manner

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verb

1. (intr) to dance in this manner

Etymology

Origin of mosh

1980–85; perhaps variant of mash ¹

Explanation

To mosh is to dance in a wild, almost violent way. Fans of music like hardcore punk and thrash metal often mosh at live shows. Concert-goers first began to mosh in the early 1980s while listening to bands play loud, aggressive hardcore and punk music. A "mosh pit" is the area near the stage where fans dance crazily. It became more common to mosh when grunge gained popularity in the late 80s. This verb was first spelled mash, but pronounced mosh — probably thanks to the lead singer of the band Bad Brains, who encouraged crowds to "mash it up" in his Jamaican accent.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mosh

William Lewis Herndon would approve of his memorial becoming a maritime mosh pit.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

It’s just one of many shows taking place from Pomona to Palm Desert, heralding a Latino-led youth revival where the freewheeling movement of mosh pits meets the raw power of punk rock: Inland Empire hardcore.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

"It was like a mosh pit," the 44-year-old said.

From Barron's ● May 16, 2026

To justify that rock-star multiple, Starbucks must show it can do more than rebound from several years of morning mosh pits and barren cafes with disappearing furniture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

Unless it happened in a mosh pit, of course.

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez