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
Nick Woltemade followed, joining Juventus on loan on Tuesday, bringing a temporary end to a costly, stylistic mismatch which contributed to throwing Eddie Howe’s Newcastle off-kilter. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 The Horned Frogs’ first two drives showed what this offense could be; physical, versatile and one that can create mismatches all across the field. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
In Your Home That mismatched dresser that didn’t complement the rest of your bedroom set may be just the thing your entryway needs. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026 The living room was small and dusty with a stone fireplace and mismatched furniture that reminded me of my own place. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for mismatch

See All Rhymes for mismatch

Browse Nearby Words

mismarriage
mismatch
mismatched
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mismatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mismatch. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mismatch

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