Word
mismatch
Phoneticsmis·match, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɪsˌmætʃ/
UK/mɪsmˈætʃ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a situation where two things do not fit together or do not match each other. You use this when there is a difference between what you have and what you need.
n. a failure to correspond or match; a discrepancy between two or more elements. Often describes a lack of alignment between skills and requirements or supply and demand.
Examples
“There is a mismatch between his skills and the job.”
“The project failed because of a clear mismatch between the ambitious goals and the limited budget available.”
“Economists often point to a structural mismatch in the labor market, where the qualifications of the unemployed do not align with the technical requirements of vacant positions.”
Examples
simple
“There is a mismatch between his skills and the job.”
contextual
“The project failed because of a clear mismatch between the ambitious goals and the limited budget available.”
complex
“Economists often point to a structural mismatch in the labor market, where the qualifications of the unemployed do not align with the technical requirements of vacant positions.”
Usage
Commonly paired with the preposition 'between' to identify the two conflicting elements.
Real-World Examples
“They linked this effect to prediction error, which occurs when there is a mismatch between what someone expects and what actually happens.” “There is a mismatch between my question and the evidence provided in this study.” “Small mismatches can break policies, and closing that gap in wide-ranging scenarios is still not completely solved.” Etymology
From mis- + match (verb sense).
From mis- + match (noun sense).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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