A gremlin is a mischievousbehaving in a playful, annoying way that causes trouble fairy or little creature from folkloretraditional stories and beliefs passed through a culture. The word is also often used informally for a mysterious cause of trouble, especially a small technicalrelated to machinery, computers, or specialized practical skills problem.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈɡrɛm.lɪn/
Easy pronunciation: GREM-lin (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: GREM-lin.
Used here in the folklore sense: a mischievous fairy or small supernatural creature.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Gremlin Meaning
a playful or troublesome little fairy-like creature
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A mischievous fairy or small supernatural creature in folklore.
Example: People in the story blamed the broken machinery on a gremlin.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- imp — A close substitute for a mischievous supernatural creature.
- pixie — Works well for a small fairy-like creature, though usually lighter and friendlier in tone.
- pixy — A variant spelling of pixie used for a similar sense.
- brownie — Can refer to a helpful household spirit in folklore, but is less exact because the usual sense is not as mischievous.
- elf — Related in folklore, but broader and not as specifically mischievous as gremlin.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Gremlin
Meaning 2
a hidden problem that causes trouble
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A mysterious or annoying cause of trouble, especially a small mechanical or technical fault.
Example: A gremlin in the wiring kept causing the computer to restart.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Gremlin Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- imp
- pixie
- pixy
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using gremlin to mean any fairy. It usually suggests a mischievous one.
- Mixing up the folklore sense with the informal sense of a hidden technical problem.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gremlin mean?
Gremlin usually means a mischievous fairy or small supernatural creature. In informal use, it can also mean a hidden source of trouble, especially a technical fault.
Is gremlin a positive word?
Usually not. It often suggests something troublesome or annoying, though sometimes in a playful way.
What are the best synonyms for gremlin?
For the folklore sense, the best close synonyms are imp and pixie. The best choice depends on whether you mean a mischievous creature or a hidden cause of trouble.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.