glitch
Americannoun
-
a defect or malfunction in a machine or plan.
-
Computers. any error, malfunction, or problem.
-
a brief or sudden interruption or surge in voltage in an electric circuit.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
a sudden instance of malfunctioning or irregularity in an electronic system
-
a change in the rotation rate of a pulsar
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of glitch
First recorded in 1960–65; perhaps from Yiddish glitsh “slippery area”; compare glitshn, German glitschen “to slip, slide”
Explanation
A glitch is a problem or malfunction, usually a temporary one, in a system or machine. Your science fair team might experience a major glitch in your plans if you lose your data tables as the result of a computer glitch. Glitch is a pretty new word, introduced in the 1960s when the science and technology of space flight was being developed. It originally meant a sudden surge of electrical current that caused a disturbance or malfunction. The word can also be used more broadly to describe any unexpected difficultly, like the glitch in your travel plans that resulted from airport delays.
Vocabulary lists containing glitch
English Words Derived from Yiddish
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: January 26 - February 1, 2019
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Out of My Mind
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
However, a technical glitch resulted in most of the images appearing blurry, making them look like a "dream", Beydoun said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
Grid operators in Texas and elsewhere have been establishing “ride-through” requirements that ensure data centers and other big customers don’t abruptly unplug during a minor glitch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
This, of course, is reminiscent of a similar glitch that nearly destroyed The Beef in “Review,” the critically acclaimed first-season oner that made the show a summertime must-watch.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
Some of the dead-on precision of Nilles’ attack was lost by out-of-sync video screens, an annoying glitch that needs attention given her monster performance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
People couldn’t stop talking about how computers would automatically glitch when the year switched from 1999 to 2000.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
It says that computer glitches are suspected to be behind more than 24,000 cases of child support overcharging, resulting in £4.3m in inflated charges.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
The extra time this takes, as well as some technical glitches, have meant long delays at some airports.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Dipke has called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced criticism over the irregularities, including paper leaks and technical glitches.
From Barron's ● Jun. 6, 2026
Nearly a year after the rebrand, internal documents showed that Meta’s flagship metaverse product, a virtual-reality app for consumers called Horizon Worlds, suffered from glitches and struggled to add and retain users.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026
As they do, one of them suddenly glitches out of sight.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
