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 of scrum

• throng
• crowd
• swarm
• flock
• horde
• mob

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

During a 10-minute scrum in the visitors’ dugout before Friday night’s series opener, Devers, through a Giants team translator, echoed many of the sentiments shared by the aforementioned stars and countless other ex-Red Sox upon their returns. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Tyler manages to reverse the vehicle, pick up James, and get the hell out of the scrum. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

And my parents were there and then you immediately get thrown into the press conference into the scrum with Tony Khan, which is exciting. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Numia prevented an early Bulls lineout maul try then the All Blacks shoved the Bulls' five-meter attacking scrum backwards. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

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