Standard Lemma guide

PEBCAK

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpɛbkæk/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Chiefly used by technical support helpdesk staff: a problem experienced with a user's computer that is due to user error.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, attributive, humorous

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Acronym of problem exists between chair and keyboard.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: fejl 40 — problem experienced with a user's computer that is due to user error
  • Finnish: ongelma sijaitsee näppäimistön ja tuolin välissä — problem experienced with a user's computer that is due to user error
  • German: Problem zwischen Stuhl und Tastatur — problem experienced with a user's computer that is due to user error
  • Hungarian: a probléma a szék és a billentyűzet között van — problem experienced with a user's computer that is due to user error
  • Swedish: skit bakom spakarna — problem experienced with a user's computer that is due to user error