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.
The first week will see the 32-player field split into eight groups of four that will compete in group match play across three days. Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026 So whether the new postseason format that CEO Brian Rolapp announced Tuesday — seven days of match play over two weeks in two cities — is an improvement over the previous iterations remains to be seen. ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Expect live match play, player meet-and-greets and plenty of delicious dining and drinking. Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The leagues are eight weeks, with different formats like head-to-head match play or the tag-team alternate shot each week. Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 25 July 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Match play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/match%20play. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on match play

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!