an unmatched

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an unmatched" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is unparalleled or without equal. For example, "She has an unmatched talent for music." Alternative expressions include "an unparalleled" and "an unrivaled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was an unmatched test of wills.

The New York Times - Arts

We are in the midst of an unmatched environmental disaster".

The Guardian

Ms. Goldberg brings an unmatched versatility to her new assignment.

The New York Times - Arts

"I saw an unmatched portfolio of global brands," he said.

The New York Times

Shakespeare is offering not only an unmatched portrait of England.

The Guardian

But Ramírez is also 36, with an unmatched reputation for unpredictability.

The New York Times - Sports

During this time he had an unmatched reputation as a publisher of taste and acumen.

The Guardian - Books

He said: "Guinness has an unmatched record when it comes to producing creative, compelling advertising.

The Guardian

He brought to the organization great humor, wisdom, and an unmatched fundraising tenacity.

The New York Times

But Murakami has an unmatched gift for turning psychological metaphors into uncanny narratives.

The New York Times - Books

Neither scenario seems like one conceived of by an unmatched football genius.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific contexts, use the phrase specifically to describe study designs or data points that have not been paired with a control, such as "an unmatched case-control study".

Common error

Do not use "an unmatched" when you mean two things do not fit together or are poorly paired. Use "a mismatched" for items that do not agree and "an unmatched" for items that have no equal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an unmatched" serves as an adjective phrase where the determiner "an" precedes the past participle of the verb "match" used adjectivally. According to Ludwig, it functions primarily as an intensifier to modify nouns that represent qualities, records or statuses. In technical writing, as seen in Ludwig AI examples, it acts as a classifier to distinguish specific types of scientific methodologies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an unmatched" is a versatile and powerful linguistic tool used to signal that something is without equal. Ludwig data shows that it is prevalent in both high-end journalism and technical scientific literature. In common parlance, it emphasizes superiority—whether describing a sports record, a professional reputation or a creative talent. Conversely, in the scientific realm, it identifies a specific type of unpaired methodology. When using this phrase, writers should be mindful of the vowel-start rule, always using the article "an", and ensure that the context clearly distinguishes between being "peerless" and simply being "mismatched". Overall, it remains one of the most effective ways to denote a singular level of achievement or a specific procedural state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unparalleled

suggests that there is no equal in terms of scope or scale

an unrivaled

emphasizes that no competitor or peer can come close to the subject

an unsurpassed

specifically highlights that the quality or quantity has never been exceeded

an unequaled

a direct synonym focusing on the lack of a match

an incomparable

implies the quality is so high that comparisons are impossible

a peerless

uses a more literary term to indicate having no equals

a matchless

a poetic or classic alternative focusing on the lack of a rival

an unbeatable

more informal and common in sports or competitive business contexts

an extraordinary

focuses on being out of the ordinary rather than specifically being the best

a unique

suggests being the only one of its kind without necessarily implying superiority

FAQs

How do I use "an unmatched" in a sentence?

You can use it to highlight excellence, for example: "The athlete showed "an unmatched determination" during the finals."

What is the difference between "an unmatched" and "an unparalleled"?

While often interchangeable, "an unparalleled" is slightly more formal and often used for historical events, whereas "an unmatched" is common in sports and business.

Can I say "a unmatched" instead of "an unmatched"?

No, because "unmatched" begins with a vowel sound, you must always use the indefinite article "an".

What is a more formal alternative for "an unmatched"?

Depending on your specific needs, you might consider using "an unsurpassed" or "a peerless" to sound more sophisticated.