: a cause of error or equipment malfunction (as in aircraft) conceived of as a small mischievous gnome
Examples of gremlin in a Sentence
during the World Wars, fighter pilots adopted the fanciful notion that gremlins were responsible for mechanical failures on their planes
Recent Examples on the Web
The notion of gremlins was first conceived during the 1920s when mechanical failures in Royal Air Force aircraft were jokingly blamed on the small monsters.
—
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
After those rules are broken, the gremlin spawns more of its kind and end up wrecking havoc on Billy’s hometown during Christmas.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Ashley Darby, after seven winters, six summers, and two presidential administrations, has finally gotten divorced from the corporeal gremlin known as Michael Darby.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Other old-car issues, such as gremlins impacting the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and exhaust systems, are ongoing considerations.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
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James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
After those rules are broken, the gremlin spawns more of its kind and end up wrecking havoc on Billy’s hometown during Christmas.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Ashley Darby, after seven winters, six summers, and two presidential administrations, has finally gotten divorced from the corporeal gremlin known as Michael Darby.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Other old-car issues, such as gremlins impacting the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and exhaust systems, are ongoing considerations.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gremlin
Cite this Entry
“Gremlin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gremlin. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gremlin
noun
grem·lin
ˈgrem-lən 
: a small mischievous or troublesome creature
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