glitch

noun

\ ˈglich

Definition of glitch

1a : a usually minor malfunction a glitch in a spacecraft's fuel cell also : bug entry 1 sense 2

b : a minor problem that causes a temporary setback : snag

2 : a false or spurious electronic signal

Other Words from glitch Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about glitch

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Did You Know?

There's a glitch in the etymology of glitch - the origins of the word are not known for sure, though it may derive from the Yiddish glitsh, meaning "slippery place." The first documented use of glitch in print in English is found in astronaut John Glenn's 1962 book Into Orbit. In it he wrote, "Literally, a glitch is a spike or change in voltage in an electrical circuit which takes place when the circuit suddenly has a new load put on it." Today, you don't have to be an astronaut to be familiar with the word glitch, which can be used of any minor malfunction or snag.

Examples of glitch in a Sentence

Glitches in the speaker's schedule caused some delays. A technical glitch caused a temporary shutdown.

Recent Examples on the Web

And in an industry where acclaim is often a byproduct of time and consistency, Horn has proven to be a glitch in the matrix. — SFChronicle.com, "Matt Horn is the future of Bay Area barbecue," 2 July 2019 Texts between Strzok and Page between Dec. 15, 2017 and May 17, 2017, were lost because of a glitch in the FBI's data collection system, but the inspector general was able to recover about 10,000 texts from each their devices. — William Cummings, USA TODAY, "Trump says Mueller committed a 'crime' and 'terminated' texts between Strzok and Page. (He didn't.)," 26 June 2019 In the meantime, Boeing must get busy delivering the new tankers with no more glitches. — Jon Talton, The Seattle Times, "Boeing’s other problem: Much-needed Air Force tanker keeps hitting snafus," 12 Apr. 2019 The cause of the disruption was a small glitch in one of the spacecraft’s instruments used for steering and pointing. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "After briefly going offline, NASA’s Chandra X-ray space telescope is back in action," 15 Oct. 2018 However, the center booster experienced a software glitch and crashed into the ocean. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "SpaceX Loses its Rocket Booster to Rough Seas," 16 Apr. 2019 Though the exact cause of the crash is unclear at the moment, investigators suspect that a software glitch or misinterpretation by pilots may have contributed to the accident, reports The Wall Street Journal. — Dami Lee, The Verge, "Boeing issues safety bulletin on 737 Max aircraft following Lion Air crash," 7 Nov. 2018 Despite the apparent glitch, consumers flocked to Thursday’s store opening. — Laura Stevens, WSJ, "Inside the New Amazon 4-Star Store, a Novelty Gift Shop," 27 Sep. 2018 Despite some glitches on Prime Day, Amazon’s annual sale this year is poised to be its best ever. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "Happy Prime Day! Experts worry Amazon is building a dangerous monopoly.," 17 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glitch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.