match play: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Sports
Quick answer
What does “match play” mean?
A scoring system in golf (and some other sports) where the competition is decided by winning individual holes rather than by total strokes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A scoring system in golf (and some other sports) where the competition is decided by winning individual holes rather than by total strokes.
More broadly, any contest decided by the number of individual games, sets, or holes won, as opposed to aggregate points or scores.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is standard in golf and sports lexicons in both varieties. Pronunciation of 'match' may differ (/æ/ vs /ɑː/).
Connotations
Associated with head-to-head, tactical competition, often seen as more dramatic or psychologically intense than stroke play.
Frequency
Equal frequency in relevant sports contexts (golf, some racket sports). Rarely used in everyday conversation outside these domains.
Grammar
How to Use “match play” in a Sentence
compete in match playthe match play formata match play eventwin by match playVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “match play” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He is a formidable match-play competitor.
- The match-play format suits her aggressive style.
American English
- She has a strong match-play record.
- The tournament switched to a match-play bracket.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in sports science papers comparing competitive formats.
Everyday
Only when discussing specific sports like golf.
Technical
Primary context: golf rules, tournament descriptions, sports commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “match play”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “match play”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “match play”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They match played'). It is a compound noun.
- Confusing it with 'stroke play'.
- Capitalising it incorrectly when not part of a proper title (e.g., 'Match Play Championship').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it originated in golf but is also used in other sports like tennis or team competitions (e.g., Davis Cup) where the winner is decided by matches won, not cumulative games or points.
No, it is a noun (often used attributively as an adjective, e.g., 'match-play format'). You 'play match play' or 'compete in match play'.
The hole is 'halved' (neither player wins it). The overall match is won by being ahead by more holes than remain to be played.
Yes, when used as a compound modifier (e.g., match-play final). It can be written as two words when a noun (e.g., the format was match play). Dictionaries vary, but hyphenation in attributive position is standard.
A scoring system in golf (and some other sports) where the competition is decided by winning individual holes rather than by total strokes.
Match play is usually technical / sports in register.
Match play: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmætʃ pleɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmætʃ pleɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A match play specialist”
- “The beauty of match play”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tennis MATCH: you win by taking sets/games, not total points. MATCH PLAY is similar—winning individual holes/games.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR (winning individual battles/holes to win the war/match).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary contrast to 'match play' in golf?