glitch

Summary

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Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “Glitch” (August 17, 2025)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode explores the word "glitch"—its definition, origins, evolution in meaning, and usage in contemporary language. Host Peter Sokolowski sheds light on how a technical term grew into everyday parlance, highlighting notable historical references and examples.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Usage

• Glitch is a noun, spelled G-L-I-T-C-H.
• The word is informal and most often refers to “an unexpected and usually minor problem,” especially in the context of machinery or technology (e.g., computers).

Contemporary Example

• A sentence from The Atlantic illustrates the word within a real-world context:

  “Glitches in the software soon resulted in hundreds of rural postmasters being falsely accused of theft and summarily fired.”
  (00:51)

Etymology and Historical References

• There’s “a glitch in the etymology” of the word itself. It may come from the Yiddish word for “slippery place,” but the connection is uncertain.
• The earliest known print usage dates to the mid-20th century, where “glitch” described a brief, unexpected surge of electrical current.
• Astronaut John Glenn offered an early public explanation. In his 1962 book Into Orbit, he wrote:

  “Literally a glitch is a spike or change in voltage in an electrical circuit which takes place when the circuit suddenly has a new load put on it.”
  (01:56)

Evolution of Meaning

• Originally technical, “glitch” now broadly refers to any malfunction or snag, trivial or not.
• Gaming culture has adapted the word, using it to refer to unexpected and sometimes advantageous anomalies within games.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the informality and reach of "glitch":

  “Today, the word can be used of any minor malfunction or snag. If you’re a gamer, you might even take advantage of a glitch that causes something unexpected and sometimes beneficial to happen in the game.”
  — Peter Sokolowski (02:19)

• On its mysterious etymology:

  “There’s a glitch in the etymology of the word glitch. It may come from the Yiddish word meaning slippery place, but that’s not certain.”
  — Peter Sokolowski (01:30)

• On John Glenn’s historical usage:

  “Literally a glitch is a spike or change in voltage… when the circuit suddenly has a new load put on it.”
  — Citing John Glenn (01:56)

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Timeline of Key Segments

• [00:40] — Introduction and spelling of "glitch"
• [00:51] — Real-world usage example from The Atlantic
• [01:30] — Discussion of etymology and origins
• [01:56] — John Glenn's definition and first uses in print
• [02:19] — Expansion into broad modern usage, including gaming

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Tone & Style

The episode, hosted by Peter Sokolowski, is informative, approachable, and peppered with historical anecdotes. The exploration balances linguistic depth with everyday relevance, maintaining Merriam-Webster’s signature clarity and accessibility.

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For more definitions and linguistic insights, listeners are encouraged to visit merriam-webster.com.

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Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

It'S the word of the day for August 17th.

[A]

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[B]

Today'S Word is Glitch Spelled G L I T C H Glitch is a noun. It's an informal word referring to an unexpected and usually minor problem. It's used especially for a minor problem with a machine or device such as a computer. Here's the word used in a sentence from the Atlantic by Cullen Britain's postal system, once overseen directly by a government minister, became a government owned statutory corporation in 1970. In time, parts of it were spun off. Since the days of Margaret Thatcher, the nation has pursued privatization more aggressively than most other countries, and the legal and oversight structure was subjected to continual tinkering. In a deal originating as a public private partnership arrangement, the Post Office in the late 1990s computerized its accounting and other operations. Glitches in the software soon resulted in hundreds of rural postmasters being falsely accused of theft and summarily fired. There's a glitch in the etymology of the word glitch. It may come from the Yiddish word meaning slippery place, but that's not certain. Print uses of glitch, referring to a brief, unexpected surge of electrical current, dates to the mid 20th century. Astronaut John Glenn, in his 1962 book Into Orbit, felt the need to explain the term to his readers with these Literally a glitch is a spike or change in voltage in an electrical circuit which takes place when the circuit suddenly has a new load put on it. Today, the word can be used of any minor malfunction or snag. If you're a gamer, you might even take advantage of a glitch that causes something unexpected and sometimes beneficial to happen in the game. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[A]

Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending. Word lookups.