Definition of glitch

The word "glitch" has its roots in the early 20th century, originating from the Yiddish language. In Yiddish, "glech" refers to a sudden, unexpected event or a slip-up. The term was borrowed into American English in the 1920s and initially referred to an unexpected, usually unpleasant, occurrence. In the 1960s, the term "glitch" gained popularity in the context of electronic technology, particularly in the fields of radio, television, and telecommunications. It was used to describe an unexpected and usually temporary malfunction or fault in a machine or system, causing it to malfunction or produce incorrect output. Today, the term "glitch" is widely used to describe any unexpected problem or malfunction, whether it be in technology, people, or everyday life. Despite its origins in Yiddish, the word "glitch" has become an integral part of contemporary English language, thanks to its widespread adoption in the fields of technology and engineering.