# glitch

/ˈɡɫɪtʃ/ (US) · /ɡlˈɪtʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/glitch
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a temporary problem

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a small and sudden problem that stops a machine or system from working for a short time.

For teachers: a minor, typically intermittent malfunction in a system or device that disrupts normal operation.

- A technical glitch in the banking app prevented customers from seeing their balance.
- The launch was delayed by several hours due to a minor software glitch that affected the communication array's primary sensors.

### 2. video games/computing

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

an error in a computer program or video game that causes strange behavior.

For teachers: a software bug or unintended behavior in a digital environment, often exploited by users to gain an advantage.

- I found a glitch in the game that lets my character walk through walls.
- Speedrunners often spend hundreds of hours practicing specific glitches that allow them to bypass entire levels of the game.

### 3. astronomy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a sudden change in how fast a certain type of star spins.

For teachers: a sudden, discrete increase in the rotational frequency of a pulsar, often followed by a period of gradual recovery.

- Scientists observed a glitch in the pulsar's rotation during their study.
- The sudden glitch in the pulsar's timing provided researchers with valuable data regarding the star's internal superfluid dynamics.

### 4. to malfunction

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to have a sudden, temporary problem that stops something from working.

For teachers: to suffer a temporary or intermittent technical failure; often used intransitively.

- The screen started to glitch and show strange colors after I dropped the phone.
- The live broadcast began to glitch during the final segment, resulting in several seconds of distorted audio and frozen frames.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.