scrum

noun

ˈskrəm 

1

a

or scrummage

ˈskrə-mij 

: a rugby play in which the forwards of each side come together in a tight formation and struggle to gain possession of the ball using their feet when it is tossed in among them

also : the arrangement of players in a scrum

b

: a usually brief and disorderly struggle or fight : scrape, scuffle

2

a

British : madhouse sense 2

b

: a usually tightly packed or disorderly crowd : throng

scrummage intransitive verb

Synonyms

• army
• bike [chiefly Scottish]
• cram
• crowd
• crush
• drove
• flock
• herd
• horde
• host
• legion
• mass
• mob
• multitude
• press
• rout
• swarm
• throng

Examples of scrum in a Sentence

I had to fight my way through the scrum of holiday shoppers at the mall.

when the server spilled a drink on a customer, they got into a bit of a scrum before being separated

Recent Examples on the Web

Wiles’s willingness to move in the shadows helps keep her out of the typical Washington scrums. —Tevi Troy, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025

Appert showed him video of Marchand and Brendan Gallagher, smaller forwards who play with an edge and aren’t afraid of scrums. —Peter Baugh, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025

Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was also suspended three games for his actions in that same scrum between McDavid and Garland. —Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 21 Jan. 2025

The resulting scrum led to a shot-clock violation, and that’s when Reynolds delivered the dagger. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

short for scrummage, alteration of scrimmage

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for scrum

• bum
• chum
• come
• crum
• cum
• drum
• dum
• dumb
• from
• frum
• glum
• gum