Game vs. Match — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
A "game" refers to an activity or sport with rules, while a "match" denotes a specific contest or competition in that sport or activity.
Difference Between Game and Match
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A game is a broad term that denotes an activity or sport with a set of rules and objectives. Conversely, a match typically signifies a specific instance or contest within that sport or activity.
In many sports, multiple games can make up a tournament or league, while a match refers to an individual competition within that context. For instance, in tennis, a tournament might have several matches.
The term game can also be employed more broadly outside of sports, referring to recreational activities or even video games. A match, on the other hand, remains specific to the idea of a competition, often between two participants or teams.
For example, baseball is a game played with specific rules and equipment, but when two teams compete against each other, it's referred to as a match. However, in some sports, the term "game" can also represent a specific contest, which might create some overlap between the two words.
One more distinction is in usage. You might say you love the game of soccer, referring to the sport as a whole, but you're excited about tonight's match, pointing to a specific competition in that sport.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
An activity or sport with rules
A specific contest in a sport or activity
Scope
Broader term
More specific
Usage Outside Sports
Can refer to recreational activities or video games
Primarily used for competitions
Participants
Not necessarily specific to individual contests
Often between two participants or teams
Example
Chess is a game.
Two players might compete in a chess match.
Compare with Definitions
Game
A particular instance or session of a sport.
We won yesterday's baseball game.
Match
A contest in which people or teams compete against each other.
The soccer match ended in a tie.
Game
A digital or electronic interactive entertainment.
She's really into the latest video game releases.
Match
A pairing of two things that are alike or complementary.
Their personalities are a perfect match.
Game
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements.
Match
To pair someone or something with another.
The teacher tried to match each student with a mentor.
Game
An activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime
Party games.
Word games.
Match
A match is a tool for starting a fire. Typically, matches are made of small wooden sticks or stiff paper.
Game
A competitive activity or sport in which players contend with each other according to a set of rules
The game of basketball.
The game of gin rummy.
Match
One that is exactly like another or a counterpart to another
Is there a match for this glove in the drawer?.
Game
A single instance of such an activity
We lost the first game.
Match
One that is like another in one or more specified qualities
He is John's match for bravery.
Game
Games An organized athletic program or contest
Track-and-field games.
Took part in the winter games.
Match
One that is able to compete equally with another
The boxer had met his match.
Game
A period of competition or challenge
It was too late in the game to change the schedule of the project.
Match
One that closely resembles or harmonizes with another
The napkins were a nice match for the tablecloth.
Game
The total number of points required to win a game
One hundred points is game in bridge.
Match
A pair, each one of which resembles or harmonizes with the other
The colors were a close match.
Game
The score accumulated at any given time in a game
The game is now 14 to 12.
Match
A game or contest in which two or more persons, animals, or teams oppose and compete with each other
A soccer match.
Game
The equipment needed for playing certain games
Packed the children's games in the car.
Match
A tennis contest won by the player or side that wins a specified number of sets, usually two out of three or three out of five.
Game
A particular style or manner of playing a game
Improved my tennis game with practice.
Match
A marriage or an arrangement of marriage
A royal match.
Game
An active interest or pursuit, especially one involving competitive engagement or adherence to rules
"the way the system operates, the access game, the turf game, the image game" (Hedrick Smith).
Match
A person viewed as a prospective marriage partner.
Game
A business or occupation; a line
The insurance game.
Match
A narrow piece of material, usually wood or cardboard, coated on one end with a compound that ignites when scratched against a rough or chemically treated surface.
Game
An illegal activity; a racket.
Match
An easily ignited cord or wick, formerly used to detonate powder charges or to fire cannons and muzzle-loading firearms.
Game
Evasive, trifling, or manipulative behavior
Wanted a straight answer, not more of their tiresome games.
Match
To be like (another) or be a counterpart to
Does this sock match that one?.
Game
A calculated strategy or approach; a scheme
I saw through their game from the very beginning.
Match
To resemble or harmonize with
The coat matches the dress.
Game
(Mathematics) A model of a competitive situation that identifies interested parties and stipulates rules governing all aspects of the competition, used in game theory to determine the optimal course of action for an interested party.
Match
To adapt or suit so that a balanced or harmonious result is achieved; cause to correspond
You should match your deeds to your beliefs.
Game
Wild animals hunted for food or sport.
Match
To find or produce a counterpart to
It's difficult to match the color of old paint.
Game
The flesh of these animals, eaten as food.
Match
To pair (someone) with another in a romantic relationship or marriage
She was hoping to match her cousin with her neighbor.
Game
An object of attack, ridicule, or pursuit
The press considered the candidate's indiscretions to be game.
Match
To place in opposition or competition; pit
She matched her skill against all comers.
Game
Mockery; sport
The older children teased and made game of the newcomer.
Match
To provide with an adversary or competitor
The tournament matches the best offensive team with the best defensive team.
Game
To manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; rig
Executives who gamed the system to get huge payoffs.
Match
To do as well as or better than in competition; equal
She easily matches me in bicycle racing.
Game
To play for stakes; gamble.
Match
To set in comparison; compare
Beauty that could never be matched.
Game
To play a role-playing or computer game.
Match
To provide funds so as to equal or complement
The government will match all private donations to the museum.
Game
Plucky and unyielding in spirit; resolute
She put up a game fight against her detractors.
Match
To flip or toss (coins) and compare the sides that land face up.
Game
Ready and willing
Are you game for a swim?.
Match
To couple (electric circuits) by means of a transformer.
Game
Crippled; lame
A game leg.
Match
To be exactly like another; correspond exactly
Do the two socks match?.
Game
A playful or competitive activity.
Match
To harmonize with another
My shirt and my tie match.
Game
A playful activity that may be unstructured; an amusement or pastime.
Being a child is all fun and games.
Match
(sports) A competitive sporting event such as a boxing meet, a baseball game, or a cricket match.
My local team are playing in a match against their arch-rivals today.
Game
(countable) An activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment, often competitive or having an explicit goal.
Games in the classroom can make learning fun.
Match
Any contest or trial of strength or skill, or to determine superiority.
Game
A school subject during which sports are practised.
Match
Someone with a measure of an attribute equaling or exceeding the object of comparison.
He knew he had met his match.
Game
(countable) A particular instance of playing a game.
Sally won the game.
They can turn the game around in the second half.
Match
A marriage.
Game
That which is gained, such as the stake in a game.
Match
A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage.
Game
The number of points necessary to win a game.
In short whist, five points are game.
Match
Suitability.
Game
(card games) In some games, a point awarded to the player whose cards add up to the largest sum.
Match
Equivalence; a state of correspondence.
Game
(countable) The equipment that enables such activity, particularly as packaged under a title.
Some of the games in the closet we have on the computer as well.
Match
Equality of conditions in contest or competition.
Game
One's manner, style, or performance in playing a game.
Study can help your game of chess.
Hit the gym if you want to toughen up your game.
Match
A pair of items or entities with mutually suitable characteristics.
The carpet and curtains are a match.
A match made in heaven
Game
Senseid|en|video game}} (countable) {{ellipsis of video game
Match
An agreement or compact.
Game
Lovemaking, flirtation.
Match
(metalworking) A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly embedded when a mould is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mould.
Game
(slang) Prostitution. (Now chiefly in on the game.)
Match
A device made of wood or paper, at the tip coated with chemicals that ignite with the friction of being dragged (struck) against a rough dry surface.
He struck a match and lit his cigarette.
Game
A field of gainful activity, as an industry or profession.
When it comes to making sales, John is the best in the game.
He's in the securities game somehow.
Match
(intransitive) To agree; to be equal; to correspond.
Their interests didn't match, so it took a long time to agree what to do together.
These two copies are supposed to be identical, but they don't match.
Game
Something that resembles a game with rules, despite not being designed.
In the game of life, you may find yourself playing the waiting game far too often.
Match
(transitive) To agree with; to be equal to; to correspond to.
His interests didn't match her interests.
Game
An exercise simulating warfare, whether computerized or involving human participants.
Match
(transitive) To make a successful match or pairing.
They found out about his color-blindness when he couldn't match socks properly.
Game
(uncountable) wild animals hunted for food.
The forest has plenty of game.
Match
(transitive) To equal or exceed in achievement.
She matched him at every turn: anything he could do, she could do as well or better.
Game
The ability to seduce someone, usually by strategy.
He didn't get anywhere with her because he had no game.
Match
(obsolete) To unite in marriage, to mate.
Game
Mastery; the ability to excel at something.
Match
To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and groove at the edges.
To match boards
Game
(countable) A questionable or unethical practice in pursuit of a goal.
You want to borrow my credit card for a week? What's your game?
Match
(programming) To be an example of a rule or regex.
The behavior matched one or more rules and was rejected by an edit filter.
Game
(colloquial) Willing and able to participate.
Match
Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood or cardboard dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium.
Game
(of an animal) That shows a tendency to continue to fight against another animal, despite being wounded, often severely.
Match
A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate.
Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects.
Game
Persistent, especially in senses similar to the above.
Match
A bringing together of two parties suited to one another, as for a union, a trial of skill or force, a contest, or the like
A solemn match was made; he lost the prize.
Game
Injured, lame (of a limb).
Match
A matrimonial union; a marriage.
Game
(intransitive) To gamble.
Match
An agreement, compact, etc.
Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making.
Game
(intransitive) To play card games, board games, or video games.
Match
A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage.
Game
(transitive) To exploit loopholes in a system or bureaucracy in a way which defeats or nullifies the spirit of the rules in effect, usually to obtain a result which otherwise would be unobtainable.
We'll bury them in paperwork, and game the system.
Match
Equality of conditions in contest or competition, or one who provides equal competition to another in a contest; as, he had no match as a swordsman within the city.
It were no match, your nail against his horn.
Game
To perform premeditated seduction strategy.
Match
Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match.
Game
Crooked; lame; as, a game leg.
Match
A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly imbedded when a mold is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mold.
Game
Having a resolute, unyielding spirit, like the gamecock; ready to fight to the last; plucky.
I was game . . . .I felt that I could have fought even to the death.
Match
To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal.
No settled senses of the world can matchThe pleasure of that madness.
Game
Of or pertaining to such animals as are hunted for game, or to the act or practice of hunting.
Match
To furnish with its match; to bring a match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set something in competition with, or in opposition to, as equal.
No history or antiquity can matchis policies and his conduct.
Game
Sport of any kind; jest, frolic.
We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game.
Match
To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against.
Eternal mightTo match with their inventions they presumedSo easy, and of his thunder made a scorn.
Game
A contest, physical or mental, according to certain rules, for amusement, recreation, or for winning a stake; as, a game of chance; games of skill; field games, etc.
But war's a game, which, were their subject wise,Kings would not play at.
Match
To make or procure the equal of, or that which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match a vase or a horse; to match cloth.
Game
The use or practice of such a game; a single match at play; a single contest; as, a game at cards.
Talk the game o'er between the deal.
Match
To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another).
Let poets match their subject to their strength.
Game
That which is gained, as the stake in a game; also, the number of points necessary to be scored in order to win a game; as, in short whist five points are game.
Match
To marry; to give in marriage.
A senator of Rome survived,Would not have matched his daughter with a king.
Game
In some games, a point credited on the score to the player whose cards counts up the highest.
Match
To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a groove, at the edges; as, to match boards.
Game
A scheme or art employed in the pursuit of an object or purpose; method of procedure; projected line of operations; plan; project.
Your murderous game is nearly up.
It was obviously Lord Macaulay's game to blacken the greatest literary champion of the cause he had set himself to attack.
Match
To be united in marriage; to mate.
I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.
Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep.
Game
Animals pursued and taken by sportsmen; wild meats designed for, or served at, table.
Those species of animals . . . distinguished from the rest by the well-known appellation of game.
Match
To be of equal, or similar, size, figure, color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases match.
Game
To rejoice; to be pleased; - often used, in Old English, impersonally with dative.
God loved he best with all his whole hearteAt alle times, though him gamed or smarte.
Match
Lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction;
He always carries matches to light his pipe
Game
To play at any sport or diversion.
Match
A formal contest in which two or more persons or teams compete
Game
To play for a stake or prize; to use cards, dice, billiards, or other instruments, according to certain rules, with a view to win money or some other thing waged upon the issue of the contest; to gamble.
Match
A burning piece of wood or cardboard;
If you drop a match in there the whole place will explode
Game
A single play of a game;
The game lasted 2 hours
Match
An exact duplicate;
When a match is found an entry is made in the notebook
Game
A contest with rules to determine a winner;
You need four people to play this game
Match
The score needed to win a match
Game
An amusement or pastime;
They played word games
He thought of his painting as a game that filled his empty time
His life was all fun and games
Match
A person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect
Game
Animal hunted for food or sport
Match
A person who is of equal standing with another in a group
Game
The game equipment needed to play a game;
The child received several games for his birthday
Match
A pair of people who live together;
A married couple from Chicago
Game
Your occupation or line of work;
He's in the plumbing game
She's in show biz
Match
Something that resembles or harmonizes with;
That tie makes a good match with your jacket
Game
(games) the score at a particular point or the score needed to win;
The game is 6 all
He is serving for the game
Match
Be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics;
The two stories don't agree in many details
The handwriting checks with the signature on the check
The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun
Game
The flesh of wild animals that is used for food
Match
Provide funds complementary to;
The company matched the employees' contributions
Game
A secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal);
They concocted a plot to discredit the governor
I saw through his little game from the start
Match
Bring two objects, ideas, or people together;
This fact is coupled to the other one
Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?
The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project
Game
Frivolous or trifling behavior;
For actors, memorizing lines is no game
For him, life is all fun and games
Match
Be equal to in quality or ability;
Nothing can rival cotton for durability
Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents
Game
Place a bet on;
Which horse are you backing?
I'm betting on the new horse
Match
Make correspond or harmonize;
Match my sweater
Game
Disabled in the feet or legs;
A crippled soldier
A game leg
Match
Satisfy or fulfill;
Meet a need
This job doesn't match my dreams
Game
Willing to face danger
Match
Give or join in marriage
Game
A structured form of play, usually for entertainment.
The children enjoyed a game of hide and seek.
Match
Set into opposition or rivalry;
Let them match their best athletes against ours
Pit a chess player against the Russian champion
He plays his two children off against each other
Game
A sport or physical activity with rules.
Soccer is a popular game worldwide.
Match
Be equal or harmonize;
The two pieces match
Game
A strategy or approach to a situation.
He's just playing a game to get what he wants.
Match
Make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching;
Let's equalize the duties among all employees in this office
The company matched the discount policy of its competitors
Match
A short stick or piece of cardboard tipped with a combustible chemical.
He lit the fire with a match.
Match
To be equal to something in quality or strength.
No other product can match its performance.
Common Curiosities
How does "game" differ from "match" in terms of scope?
"Game" has a broader scope, referring to the sport or activity itself, while "match" is specific to a contest within that sport or activity.
Does "match" always refer to a contest?
Mostly, but "match" can also refer to things that are alike or pair well together.
Do both "game" and "match" refer to sports?
Yes, but while "game" can refer to the sport in general, "match" denotes a specific contest within that sport.
Can "game" refer to video games?
Yes, "game" can refer to digital or electronic interactive entertainment.
Can "match" refer to non-sport contexts?
Yes, it can refer to things that are similar or pair well, as in a good "match" in relationships or colors.
Can "game" denote a strategy or approach?
Yes, as in "playing a game" to achieve a goal or manipulate a situation.
Can "game" be used in the context of hunting?
Yes, "game" can refer to wild animals hunted for sport, though that usage isn't covered above.
In which contexts might the term "game" not refer to a sport or contest?
"Game" can also refer to wild animals hunted for sport, video games, or a manner of behaving to achieve something.
Can the word "match" be used outside of sports or contests to mean pairing or compatibility?
Yes, "match" can refer to two things that are alike or go well together, like matching colors or a good relationship match.
Which term is more specific to a competition between two entities?
"Match" is more specific to competitions, often between two participants or teams.
Which term is used to describe a contest in tennis?
In tennis, a contest is referred to as a "match."
Can you play a "game" of chess?
Yes, but when two players compete in chess, it can also be called a "match."
In sports commentary, which term is likely used to discuss a team's performance in a specific event?
"Match" is typically used to refer to a specific event or contest, such as discussing a team's performance in a recent soccer match.
If someone says they "love watching games," does it necessarily mean sports?
Not necessarily. They could be referring to video games, board games, or other recreational activities, not just sports.
Is there any sport where "game" and "match" can be used interchangeably?
Yes, in some sports like tennis or chess, both "game" and "match" can be used, though they have distinct meanings. A tennis match, for instance, comprises multiple games.
Can a "game" also be something not played but watched for entertainment?
Yes, a "game" could refer to a contest in sports or other competitions that spectators watch, whether live or on television.
Which word would you use to describe a specific soccer contest between two teams?
That would be referred to as a soccer "match."
Is every "game" a "match"?
No, while every "match" is a game or contest, not every "game" refers to a specific contest or match.
How might the term "game" be used in a strategic or manipulative context?
"Game" can refer to a strategy, tactic, or manner of behaving to achieve a specific outcome, as in "he's playing a game to get promoted."
Is there a specific term for a contest in a game like basketball or football?
While both can be referred to as a "game," in contexts like football (soccer in the U.S.), it's also common to hear "match," especially in international play.
Can "match" also mean something flammable used to start a fire?
Yes, a "match" can refer to a short stick or piece of cardboard tipped with a combustible chemical used to ignite a flame.
In the context of dating, how might "match" be used?
In dating, a "match" could refer to two people who are considered compatible or suitable for each other, often used in online dating platforms.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
