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
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That allowed the Panthers to shorten the game and possess the ball for 10 minutes and 32 seconds longer than the Rams, whose defenders this week admitted to being knocked off the line of scrimmage this week by the Carolina run blockers.
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Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Factor in Rodgers' league-leading time-to-throw abilities, and defenses don't have time to be as exotic, which enables the Steelers to methodically drive down the field, often by peppering their running backs near the line of scrimmage.
—Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Multiple times this season, Hurricanes running backs have been stopped near the line of scrimmage, but the UM offensive line has pushed and powered the pile forward for extra yards.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
The officiating team then moved the line of scrimmage to where Dowdle picked the ball up, to force a second-and-17, a drive-stunting turn of events.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
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Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Factor in Rodgers' league-leading time-to-throw abilities, and defenses don't have time to be as exotic, which enables the Steelers to methodically drive down the field, often by peppering their running backs near the line of scrimmage.
—Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Multiple times this season, Hurricanes running backs have been stopped near the line of scrimmage, but the UM offensive line has pushed and powered the pile forward for extra yards.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
The officiating team then moved the line of scrimmage to where Dowdle picked the ball up, to force a second-and-17, a drive-stunting turn of events.
—Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for line of scrimmage
Cite this Entry
“Line of scrimmage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20of%20scrimmage. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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