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
Didn’t take advantage of some mismatches in transition. Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025 Pritchard hit a three moments later, and Tatum and Porzingis found and exploited a series of mismatches as the Celtics rebuilt a 15-point cushion. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
The researchers generated mismatched magnetic fields by combining the inclination from one geographic location with the intensity from another, swapping the values throughout the trials. Julianna Bragg, CNN, 12 Feb. 2025 Pippi Longstocking Turns 80 First introduced in 1945, Pippi Longstocking—with her fiery red hair, mismatched stockings, and boundless imagination—captured hearts everywhere with her fearless independence and whimsical adventures. David Nikel, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near mismatch

Cite this Entry

“Mismatch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mismatch. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

mismatch

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

More from Merriam-Webster on mismatch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!