troubleshooting

American  

[truhb-uhl-shoot-ing] / ˈtrʌb əlˌʃut ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of discovering and resolving problems, disputes, or mechanical or technical issues.

   The first step in cellphone troubleshooting is simple: restart your device.

   The customer support position involves troubleshooting, researching solutions, and providing resolutions to consumer problems.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the process of discovering and resolving problems, disputes, or mechanical or technical issues.

   If you’ve already tried some troubleshooting steps before emailing us, please make sure to mention them.

Etymology

Origin of troubleshooting

First recorded in 1915–20; troubleshoot ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun; troubleshoot ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective

Example Sentences

Agentic-AI systems will act on behalf of users — negotiating, troubleshooting and completing transactions directly with other systems.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

They spent less than an hour troubleshooting the pour.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The knowledge base is comprehensive with detailed setup guides, troubleshooting articles, and FAQ sections.

From Salon • Dec. 10, 2025

"From selecting materials and 3D printing, to troubleshooting electronics and satisfying requirements, working collaboratively with Yuji and Xinyu has been extremely rewarding," he said.

From Science Daily • Nov. 7, 2025

Through 1935, the twenty-seven-inch had exhibited a persistent tetchiness that kept grad students and technicians busy troubleshooting in its innards for hours on end.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik