glitch
Americannoun
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a defect or malfunction in a machine or plan.
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Computers. any error, malfunction, or problem.
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a brief or sudden interruption or surge in voltage in an electric circuit.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a sudden instance of malfunctioning or irregularity in an electronic system
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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
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This Week in Words: January 26 - February 1, 2019
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Out of My Mind
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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:
It was a rare, unexplained, glitch in a system that blares out warnings of incoming attacks multiple times a day through loudspeaker announcements on the street and metro, and the collective ping of phone notifications.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
The initial message, the FIA said, was caused by a software glitch in the system.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 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
The most benign simply cause a program to do something unexpected—a glitch on the computer screen or maybe a crash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 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
It was not without a few glitches, however, including engine issues with the Super Heavy booster that necessitated a crash into the Gulf of Mexico rather than a precision return.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
Agents said the insurer’s tech, instead of freeing up their time to sell more, can result in them having to sort out glitches.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Wizz Air's Moynihan acknowledged improvements had been made after initial teething issues and glitches.
From BBC ● May 29, 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.
