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Synonyms

matchmaker

1 American  
[mach-mey-ker] / ˈmætʃˌmeɪ kər /

noun

  1. a person who arranges or tries to arrange marriages by introducing possible mates.

  2. a person who arranges matches for athletic contests, especially prizefights and wrestling matches.

  3. any person, organization, etc., that brings two parties together, as to effect a sale or other transaction.

    an agent serving as a matchmaker between buyers and sellers.


matchmaker 2 American  
[mach-mey-ker] / ˈmætʃˌmeɪ kər /

noun

  1. a person who makes matches for burning.


matchmaker 1 British  
/ ˈmætʃˌmeɪkə /

noun

  1. a person who brings together suitable partners for marriage

  2. a person who arranges competitive matches

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

matchmaker 2 British  
/ ˈmætʃˌmeɪkə /

noun

  1. a person who makes matches (for igniting)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of matchmaker1

First recorded in 1630–40; match 2 + maker

Origin of matchmaker2

First recorded in 1635–45; match 1 + maker

Vocabulary lists containing matchmaker

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Pinterest showed off a new tool that automatically selects the ad most likely to perform best, while TikTok played matchmaker for brands and creators and debuted tools to generate ads on the fly.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 29, 2026

UFC CEO Dana White became the de facto matchmaker for the entire sport.

From Slate Jun. 14, 2026

In her 10 years as a professional matchmaker, Anna Morgenstern has never seen physical distance be as much of a dealbreaker as it is today.

From MarketWatch Jun. 3, 2026

Not only is Rousey headlining the card, she has played a key role in shaping it, playing the role of promoter and matchmaker behind the scenes.

From BBC May 15, 2026

She had already told him that the Battaglia matchmaker had advised a vacation for him in the psychiatric ward at Charity.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

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