glitch
noun
What glitch means
A small fault that stops something, usually a machine or an app, from working properly for a short time.
A glitch in the app logged everyone out.
Sorry about that, we had a technical glitch.
Test yourself
Five questions about glitch
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Question 1 of 5Meaning
What does glitch mean?
A glitch is a little problem that makes a device or an app go wrong for a moment, for example a call that freezes for two seconds and then works again.
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Question 2 of 5Situation
The ticket machine showed the wrong price for a moment and then corrected itself. It was a small…
A small fault that makes something go wrong for a short time is a glitch. An outage means the service stops completely, and a patch is a fix, not a problem.
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Question 3 of 5Gap
Sorry, a ___ in our system sent you the same email three times.
Sending the same email three times is a small, short fault, and a small fault in a system is a glitch. A patch would fix the problem, not cause it.
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Question 4 of 5Similar word
Which word is closest in meaning to glitch?
A glitch is a small fault, so fault is the closest word. A feature is a useful part of an app, and an upgrade is a better version of it.
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Question 5 of 5Correct use
Which sentence uses glitch correctly?
We talk about a glitch in something, and we have a glitch rather than do one. Glitch is a noun, so after was a bit you need the adjective glitchy.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer, Enter goes on.
Glitch in a sentence
5 more examples of glitch in everyday situations.
- At work
A glitch in the payment system delayed everyone’s salary by a day.
- Video calls
Sorry, there was a glitch and I missed your last question.
- In the news
The airline blamed a computer glitch for hundreds of canceled flights.
- Gaming
Players found a glitch that lets you walk through walls.
- With friends
My phone has been glitchy all day, so text me instead.
How to use glitch
A glitch is small and usually short. A bug is a mistake in the code. A crash is when a program stops completely.
“A technical glitch” is a common, polite phrase when something goes wrong in a call or a presentation.
Forms
- glitchesplural
- glitchyadjective (informal)
Patterns
- a glitch in something
- a technical / software glitch
- fix a glitch
- because of a glitch
Common mistakes with glitch
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NotThere was a glitch on the app this morning.
SayThere was a glitch in the app this morning.
A glitch is in a system, a program or an app, so use in, not on.
Glitch or bug or crash?
- glitch or bug
- A bug is a mistake in the code itself; a glitch is the short problem that people notice, which may or may not come from a bug.
- glitch or crash
- A crash is serious: the program stops and closes. A glitch is smaller and usually passes quickly, so the program keeps running.
Glitch is a B2 word. Is that your level? Take the level test or count the words you know.
Glitch word family and collocations
The words that go with glitch, so you can use it in a whole phrase.
Common collocations
- a technical glitch
- a minor glitch
- a software glitch
- fix a glitch
- glitchy video
Word family
- glitch (noun)
- glitchy (adjective, informal)
Similar words
- bug
- fault
- hiccup
Questions about glitch
Is glitch formal or informal?
Glitch is neutral and very common in everyday speech, news and work messages. In a formal report, people may write fault, error or technical problem instead.
What is the plural of glitch?
The plural is glitches, with -es at the end because the word ends in -ch: “The new app still has a few glitches.”
Is it a glitch in or a glitch on?
Say a glitch in a system, a program or an app. You can also say a glitch with something, as in “a glitch with the sound”.
The word before
Do you still remember brainstorm?
One question about the word from 16 October. Remembering a word a day later helps it stay.
One question
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What does brainstorm mean?
When you brainstorm, you and often your colleagues say every idea that comes to mind, and only later choose the best ones.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer.
More tech words
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B2
settings
The options on a phone, app or computer that let you choose how it works. -
C1
verify
To check that something is true or correct, for example your identity or an email address. -
B2
storage
The space on a device or online where files, photos and apps are kept. -
B1
update
A new version of a program or app that fixes problems or adds small improvements. -
C1
automate
To make a machine or program do a job by itself, without a person. -
B2
buffering
The short stops in a video or song while your device waits for more data to load.