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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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
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
Others are hunting for their own glitch to exploit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
The surface seemed to glitch at first, like a channel that was scrambled.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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
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
Wizz Air's Moynihan acknowledged improvements had been made after initial teething issues and glitches.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
Over time, the glitches in individual cells add up; a single white blood cell from a 100-year-old, we learn, typically contains more than 3,000 mutations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026
Ben’s image glitches, but his voice turns urgent.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
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.
