mosh

American

[mosh] / mɒʃ /

verb (used without object)

Slang.

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

mosh British

/ mɒʃ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

(intr) to dance in this manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mosh

1980–85; perhaps variant of mash ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

The 37-year-old rapper was soon joined by a few dozen hooded figures, carrying upside-down American flags, who began to mosh while he continued to spit his ever-steady flow.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

The crowd's energy for some of Lamar's earliest songs was electric, with mosh pits erupting throughout the standing areas for Backstreet Freestyle and family ties.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

"I asked you for a mosh pit and I'm not gonna lie to you, it was weak," he scolded, promising to give the crowd something to really get their teeth into.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2025

Connor surveys me with his finger to his lip like he now has to send all of his mosh pit extras home.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023