line of scrimmage

noun phrase

: an imaginary line in football that is parallel to the goal lines and tangent to the nose of the ball laid on the ground and marks the position of the ball at the start of each down

Examples of line of scrimmage 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.
In the 2010s, some athletic players, notably on the Seattle Seahawks, tried leaping over the line of scrimmage to get a better shot at blocking that kick. Victor Mather, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 Pass interference only occurs when a forward pass is thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025 This goes way beyond Hill and Waddle being jammed at the line of scrimmage to disrupt the timing of the short and intermediate passes, and then facing the two-high safety look to take away the deep passes. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2025 Baltimore beat Pittsburgh at its own game and out-physical the team at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Antwan Staley, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for line of scrimmage

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of line of scrimmage was circa 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Line of scrimmage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20of%20scrimmage. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

line of scrimmage

: an imaginary line in football parallel to the goal lines and running through the place the ball is laid before each play begins
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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