scrimmage

1 of 2

noun

scrim·​mage ˈskri-mij How to pronounce scrimmage (audio)
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

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
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.
Noun
Another concern with the play is injury potential for all players at the line of the scrimmage. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 Keys, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound cornerback from Fletcher High in Neptune Beach, committed to the Knights on Saturday following the team’s first scrimmage of spring camp. Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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 The last few days practicing and scrimmaging together have given them a head start on the bonding that will pick up over the summer. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scrimmage

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of scrimmage was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scrimmage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrimmage. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

scrimmage

1 of 2 noun
scrim·​mage ˈskrim-ij How to pronounce scrimmage (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on scrimmage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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