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noun

gremlin

GREHM-lihn
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Gremlin (noun) means a mischievous imaginary creature blamed for mechanical faults or malfunctions, especially in machinery or aircraft. Example: “Pilots joked that a gremlin must be loose in the engine.”

noun
1
A mischievous imaginary creature blamed for mechanical faults or malfunctions, especially in machinery or aircraft.
"Pilots joked that a gremlin must be loose in the engine."
"There's a gremlin in this printer — it jams every single time."
2
An unexplained glitch, fault, or source of trouble in a system or piece of equipment.
"Engineers spent all night chasing a gremlin in the software."
3
A troublesome, mischievous, or annoying person.
"Her little brother is an absolute gremlin at family dinners."

How to use gremlin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn invisible troublemaker you blame when something breaks for no obvious reason — or, informally, an annoying person.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with goblin, a similar but distinct folklore creature — gremlins are specifically associated with machinery and mischief, not treasure or trickery in general.

Easily confused with
goblin →
Common pairings
a gremlin in the system chase down a gremlin
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Word forms

Plural
gremlins
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Pilots joked that a _____ must be loose in the engine.

Etymology

Origin uncertain — possibly a twist on "goblin," though the word only became widely known after Roald Dahl's 1943 story The Gremlins, about mischievous creatures sabotaging RAF planes.

· First attested 1943

Class of 1943 gremlin joined the language around 1943.
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See the full Class of 1943 →

Synonyms

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elf imp brownie pixie hob pixy

Related words

giant devil monkey fairy demon stove puck elf

Rhymes for gremlin

Kremlin
See all rhymes for gremlin →

Frequently asked questions

What does “gremlin” mean?
The word “gremlin” means a mischievous imaginary creature blamed for mechanical faults or malfunctions, especially in machinery or aircraft. In plain terms, an invisible troublemaker you blame when something breaks for no obvious reason — or, informally, an annoying person.
How do you pronounce “gremlin”?
“Gremlin” is pronounced GREHM-lihn (/ˈɡɹɛmlən/ in IPA).
How do you use “gremlin” in a sentence?
Here is “gremlin” used in a sentence: “Pilots joked that a gremlin must be loose in the engine.”
What part of speech is “gremlin”?
“Gremlin” is a noun.
Where does the word “gremlin” come from?
The word “gremlin” dates back to around 1943. Origin uncertain — possibly a twist on "goblin," though the word only became widely known after Roald Dahl's 1943 story The Gremlins, about mischievous creatures sabotaging RAF planes.
How many meanings does “gremlin” have?
“Gremlin” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mischievous imaginary creature blamed for mechanical faults or malfunctions, especially in machinery or aircraft.

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