# glitch

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡlɪt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #16,032

## Definitions
1. A problem affecting function.
2. An unexpected behavior in an electrical signal, especially if the signal spontaneously returns to expected behavior after a period of time.
3. A bug or an exploit.
4. A genre of experimental electronic music since the 1990s, characterized by a deliberate use of sonic artifacts that would normally be viewed as unwanted noise.
5. A sudden increase in the rotational frequency of a pulsar.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **glitz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/glitch-vs-glitz)
- **grinch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/glitch-vs-grinch)
- **glitches** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/glitch-vs-glitches)
- **Glick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/glick-vs-glitch)

## Common misspellings (10)
`gglitch`, `giltch`, `glicth`, `glitcch`, `glitchh`, `glithc`, `glittch`, `gllitch`, `gltich`, `lgitch`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/glitch