matchmaker

IPA/ˈmætʃmeɪkə(r)/
KK[mˈætʃmˌekɚ]IPA/ˈmætʃmeɪkər/

matchmaker — noun

  • matchmakersingular
  • matchmakersplural

1. a person who brings two single people together in the hope that they will develo

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who brings two single people together in the hope that they will develop a romantic relationship, often leading to marriage

Example

The village matchmaker arranged for Wen and Yara to have dinner at a local teahouse.

matchmaker + arranged for + infinitive

In many cultures, a matchmaker helps families find suitable partners for their adult children.

collocation: matchmaker + helps + find

Common collocations
  • play matchmaker
  • hire a matchmaker
  • professional matchmaker
  • traditional matchmaker
Synonyms
  • go-between

    broader term; can refer to any intermediary, not only romantic matchmaking

  • cupid

    mythological figure, used humorously or playfully

  • marriage broker

    more formal and specifically paid; less common in modern informal use

Grammar Patterns

matchmaker (for + person)

Usage Note

Common in both professional and informal family contexts. The phrase 'play matchmaker' is a fixed expression meaning to try to introduce people romantically.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A matchmaker actively brings two people together with the goal of a romantic relationship. A go-between is more general — this person passes messages or negotiates between two parties, not necessarily for romance. Cupid is a playful, informal term drawn from Roman mythology, often used when someone playfully sets up friends ("stop playing cupid!"). Marriage broker is more formal and implies a paid arrangement, typically in contexts where families negotiate marriage terms. In everyday English, matchmaker is the most neutral and widely understood term for someone who introduces potential partners.

matchmaker ↗go-betweencupid ↗marriage broker

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • play matchmaker
  • act as a matchmaker

Prepositions

  • matchmaker for
  • matchmaker between

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Combines 'match' (from Old English 'gemæcca', meaning a companion or one of a pair) and 'maker' (someone who makes). The word has been used since the 1500s to describe a person who tries to make a pair of people into a romantic couple.