Definition of glitchy

The word "glitchy" has its origins in the 1960s, when "glitch" was first used to describe an unexpected and abnormal electronic signal or malfunction. The term is believed to have come from the German word "glitschen," which means "to slip" or "to slip out," and was likely used by German-born electrical engineers working in the United States. As technology advanced and became more widespread, the term "glitch" gained popularity and eventually developed an emotional connotation, describing not just a technical flaw, but also a frustrating or annoying experience. The resulting adjective, "glitchy," emerged in the 1980s and 1990s to describe something that is prone to or characterized by glitches, such as a "glitchy video game" or a "glitchy online connection." Today, "glitchy" is widely used to describe anything that is flaky, unreliable, or prone to unexpected failures.