glitch
GLICH
/ɡlɪtʃ/
A sudden, temporary malfunction or fault in equipment or software; (verb) to suffer a sudden malfunction.
Unlike a 'bug' (which is a fundamental flaw in code), a 'glitch' is often a transient, visual, or physical anomaly that doesn't necessarily crash the entire system.
The story behind the word. The word entered English slang in the mid-20th century. It was popularized by American astronauts, notably John Glenn in 1962, who used it to describe small, irritating electrical spikes or problems during spaceflight missions.
Word relationships
- bug: A 'bug' is an error in the underlying code that needs to be patched, while a 'glitch' is the immediate, often temporary manifestation of an error during runtime.
- anomaly: 'Anomaly' is a broader, more formal term for anything that deviates from the norm, whereas 'glitch' is specific to technology and systems.
Commonly confused with
- exploit: A glitch is the malfunction itself; an exploit is the act of a player intentionally using that glitch to gain an unfair advantage.
Word family
- glitchy (adjective): Prone to or suffering from temporary malfunctions.
Collocations
- visual glitch
- software glitch
- glitch art
- glitch exploit
Example sentences
- "A strange glitch caused my character's arms to stretch out like noodles whenever I tried to climb a ladder." A player describing a humorous visual error.
Memory hook
A glitch is like a 'slip' in the computer's brain. A glitch makes the game slip.
When not to use
Do not use 'glitch' to describe a deliberate design choice or a permanent, catastrophic hardware failure.
Fun facts
- In speedrunning (the hobby of completing games as fast as possible), players actively hunt for 'glitches' to bypass entire sections of a game.
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