mismatch

1 of 2

noun

mis·​match ˈmis-ˌmach How to pronounce mismatch (audio)
plural mismatches
: a faulty or unsuitable match
New England plays St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI this evening, and on the face of it, this game is a mismatch, a blowout waiting to happen.William C. Rhoden
She is blood type O, and the donor heart and lungs she received in the first operation were blood type A. That mismatch triggered rejection by her immune system.Dan Vergano

mismatch

2 of 2

verb

mis·​match ˌmis-ˈmach How to pronounce mismatch (audio)
mismatched; mismatching

transitive verb

: to match (two people or things) wrongly or unsuitably
Let's say that you are afraid of boring your audience. One cause is mismatching the audience's need and the level of detail you provide.Liz Reyer

Examples of mismatch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Warnings about a looming mismatch between the program’s revenues and expenses have become part of the Social Security narrative. Dan Doonan, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 At his best, Hopkins is a mismatch nightmare at the four who can slash and finish at the rim with physicality, make plays for his teammates and defend with toughness. Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
The Celtics offer a stylistic blend of drive-and-kick offense, off-ball screening, and mismatch hunting out of ball-screens that every successful offense has featured in the modern era. Shane Young, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 And then there’s budget, because nothing derails a friends’ trip faster than mismatched financial habits. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mismatch

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1606, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mismatch was in 1582

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mismatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mismatch. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

mismatch

verb
mis·​match
(ˈ)mis-ˈmach
: to match unsuitably or badly
mismatch noun

More from Merriam-Webster on mismatch

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