ENGLISH
REFERENCE

mismatch

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmɪsˌmætʃ// UK //mɪsmˈætʃ// mis·match

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.


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.

Etymology 1

From mis- + match (verb sense).

Etymology 2

From mis- + match (noun sense).

Usage

Commonly paired with the preposition 'between' to identify the two conflicting elements.

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