scrimmage

1 of 2

noun

scrim·​mage ˈskri-mij 

1

a

: a minor battle : skirmish

b

: a confused fight : scuffle

2

a

: the interplay between two football teams that begins with the snap of the ball and continues until the ball is dead

b

: practice play (as in football or basketball) between two squads

scrimmage

2 of 2

verb

scrimmaged; scrimmaging

intransitive verb

: to take part in a scrimmage

transitive verb

: to play a scrimmage against

scrimmager noun

Synonyms

Noun

• battle
• clash
• combat
• conflict
• contest
• dustup
• fight
• fracas
• fray
• hassle
• scrap
• scrum
• scuffle
• skirmish
• struggle
• tussle

Verb

• battle
• clash (with)
• combat
• fight
• skirmish (with)
• war (against)

Examples of scrimmage in a Sentence

Noun

The first play from scrimmage netted them a touchdown.

the two players got into a scrimmage off the court and got suspended

Verb

Last weekend we scrimmaged against Bell High.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The technical aspect will be an adjustment, but for a USC defense that has emphasized size along the line of scrimmage, Newby brings speed and athleticism that the Trojans lack at defensive end. —Antonio Morales, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

His top target three weeks ago during a scrimmage in Corona was sophomore Jordan Napier, the Aztecs’ leading returning receiver. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025

Verb

That changed last year as the Sean Lewis era debuted, with drills and skills on display as much as scrimmaging in what was dubbed the AztecFAST Showcase. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025

Da Beauty League, which has featured some of the best local NHL and college players scrimmaging a few nights a week in the summer, has been a popular hockey fix for fans for the past decade or so, with games held at Braemar Arena in Edina. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scrymmage, alteration of skyrmissh skirmish

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1536, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing scrimmage

• line of scrimmage
• scrimmage line

Rhymes for scrimmage

• image

Kids Definition

scrimmage

1 of 2 noun

scrim·​mage ˈskrim-ij 

1

: a minor battle : skirmish

2

: the play between two football teams that begins with the snap of the ball

3

: practice play between a team's squads or a practice game between two teams

scrimmage

2 of 2 verb

scrimmaged; scrimmaging

: to take part in a scrimmage

scrimmager noun