mismatch
mismatch Lexical Profile
mismatch Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A failure to correspond or match; a discrepancy or lack of harmony between two or more things or people.
"There is a clear mismatch between the skills required for the job and the training provided by the university."
A contest or game in which the opponents or teams are very unequal in ability, strength, or size.
"The championship final turned out to be a complete mismatch, with the defending champions winning by thirty points."
• verb
To match or pair people or things badly, unsuitably, or inaccurately.
"In the dark closet, he accidentally mismatched his dress socks before heading to the office."
Word Nuance & Usage
Like many two-syllable noun-verb pairs in English, the pronunciation of 'mismatch' typically shifts stress depending on its part of speech: the noun stresses the first syllable (MIS-match), while the verb stresses the second syllable (mis-MATCH).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the late 16th century, formed in English from the prefix 'mis-' (badly, wrongly) and 'match', which stems from Old English 'gemæcca' meaning a mate, companion, or equal.