match play

noun

: golf competition in which the winner is the person or team winning the greater number of holes compare stroke play

Examples of match play 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.
After a break, even a player in her prime needs the pressure of match play to scrub off the rust. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 1 July 2026 The Eagles reached the NCAAs for the first time this year, then rallied to be among eight teams that qualified for match play. — ABC News, 26 May 2026 At the conclusion of that round, the individual champion will be crowned, and the eight teams with the lowest cumulative scores will advance to match play. — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026 The Tour Championship, the finale of the playoffs, will rotate around to different golf courses, and match play will be integrated in some format. — Mark Harris, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for match play

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of match play was in 1893

Rhymes for match play

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Browse Nearby Words

match plate
match play
match point
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Cite this Entry

“Match play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/match%20play. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on match play

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about match play

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