glitch
n. countablen. a small, sudden problem that stops something from working correctly for a short time. You usually use this for computers, machines, or plans.
n. a sudden, usually temporary malfunction or fault in an electronic system or process. Often implies a minor technical error that is easily corrected rather than a total system failure.
A small glitch in the software caused the screen to freeze.
The live broadcast experienced a minor glitch when the audio and video lost synchronization for a few seconds.
Engineers spent the night troubleshooting a persistent glitch in the navigation system that only appeared when the satellite transitioned between orbital sectors.
Probably borrowed from Yiddish גליטש (glitsh), from German glitschig (“slippy”), from glitschen (“to slide, glide, slip”) + -ig (“-y”). Related to gleiten (“glide”). Cognate with French glisser (“to slip, slide, skid”). Popularized in the 1960s, by the US space program. Attested in 1962 by American astronaut John Glenn, in reference to spikes in electrical current.
Commonly used with verbs like 'experience', 'encounter', or 'fix'.