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Original · left

Glitch (malfunction)

A sudden, usually temporary malfunction.

First in use: the 1960s
Duplicate · right

Glitch art

Art that deliberately uses digital errors as an aesthetic.

First in use: the 2000s

Glitch / Glitch (malfunction) / Glitch art

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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Astronaut slang vs. an aesthetic.

Which meaning of Glitch is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Glitch (malfunction) came first (the 1960s). Glitch art arrived in the 2000s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Glitch (malfunction)Glitch art
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1960s

Glitch (malfunction)

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Duplicate · the 2000s

Glitch art

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More duplicated terms

Internet & gaming culture