glitch

glitch — noun

1. a small, usually temporary fault or problem in a machine, system, or process tha

1.nounB1
Definition

a small, usually temporary fault or problem in a machine, system, or process that stops it from working the way it should. It often happens with computers, software, websites, or electronic devices.

Example

Aoi noticed a glitch in the booking system and called the help desk.

collocation: glitch in [system]

The website had a glitch that stopped new users from creating accounts for several hours.

Common collocations
  • software glitch
  • technical glitch
  • minor glitch
  • glitch in the system
  • fix a glitch
  • report a glitch
  • experience a glitch
Synonyms
  • bug

    specific to software; implies a programming error, not just a temporary fault

  • fault

    broader term; can refer to permanent or serious problems in any system

  • snag

    informal; a small problem that delays a process or plan, not necessarily technical

  • hiccup

    informal; a very brief, minor problem that passes quickly

Grammar Patterns

a glitch + in + noun phrase

adjective + glitch

Usage Note

Often used for temporary electronic or software problems rather than permanent hardware damage. You can also use 'glitch' more broadly for any small, short-lived problem in a plan or process.

Common Mistakes

The developer found a glitch in the code that crashes the app every time.
The developer found a bug in the code that crashes the app every time.
A bug is a coding error that causes repeated failures; a glitch is usually temporary and not necessarily caused by bad code.

2. a short, unexpected rise in the supply of electricity that can make electronic e

2.nounB2
Definition

a short, unexpected rise in the supply of electricity that can make electronic equipment behave incorrectly or stop working

Example

A power glitch shut down the server room for almost twenty minutes.

power glitch + affects equipment

Chiara's computer restarted suddenly after an electrical glitch in the building wiring.

Common collocations
  • power glitch
  • electrical glitch
  • glitch in the power supply
Synonyms
  • surge

    standard term; suggests a more powerful and potentially damaging increase

  • spike

    technical; a very short, sharp rise in voltage

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a power/electrical glitch

glitch + in + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense is more technical than sense 1. It is common in engineering and electronics contexts but less frequent in everyday conversation. A power glitch can damage sensitive equipment if no surge protector is used.

Common Mistakes

My phone has a battery glitch.
My phone has a battery problem.
'glitch' for electricity sense refers to a burst in the power supply, not a problem with the battery itself.

glitch — verb

Word family

  • glitchy
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something wrong, but they differ in scope and context. A glitch is a small, temporary problem — annoying but usually short-lived, especially in electronics or software. A bug is a specific error in computer code that causes repeated or predictable failures; it does not go away until the code is fixed. A fault is a more general term for anything that is wrong with a system, object, or person — it can be permanent or serious, unlike a glitch. A snag is an informal word for a small, unexpected problem that delays a process, but it does not have to be technical at all. For example: 'There was a glitch in the video call, but it fixed itself after a few seconds'; 'The developers found a bug in the login code'; 'The car has an electrical fault that needs a mechanic'; 'We hit a snag with the venue booking, but sorted it out quickly.'

glitch ↗bug ↗fault ↗snag

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • technical glitch
  • minor glitch
  • power glitch
  • glitch out

Prepositions

Etymology

YiddishEnglish

The word first appeared in American English in the early 1960s, during the early days of television and computing. It probably comes from the Yiddish word 'glitsh' meaning a slip or slide, or from the German word 'glitschen' meaning to slide or slip. It became popular in broadcasting to describe a brief technical problem on TV, and later spread to computing and everyday language.