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

Before Baugh even gets back to the line of scrimmage, Xavier Lucas is already in the backfield on a corner blitz. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025

Mahomes backpedaled some 14 yards behind the line of scrimmage and rolled to his right before throwing back deep to his left. —Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025

Harris ran toward the line of scrimmage as Justin Herbert received the snap from Bradley Bozeman and dropped to complete a pass for a 10-yard gain to wide receiver Quentin Johnston on a second-and-4 play from the Broncos’ 48-yard line. —Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025

Then, outside of him, receivers Sutton and Troy Franklin off the line of scrimmage. —Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for line of scrimmage

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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