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

See Examples For:

troubleshooting

If you need help troubleshooting a problem or have other questions, go to the DMV’s Wallet webpage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● May 11, 2026

The data collected — including health monitoring and yes, troubleshooting fussy toilets — will inform future off-planet missions.

From Salon ● Apr. 7, 2026

Travelers are still hunting behind furniture for outlets and troubleshooting “smart” TVs that won’t stream.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

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