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

Rice can turn quick throws behind or just beyond the line of scrimmage into significant gains with his yards-after-catch ability. — Pete Sweeney november 12, Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2026

He’s credited with creating the line of scrimmage, downs, the snap from center, and the points system, as well as the seven-man line and four-man backfield with a quarterback. — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 9 Nov. 2026

Then, as the ball laid on the ground 12 yards ahead of the the line of scrimmage, a Texas receiver picked up the football, while trying to snag it before a Missouri defender fell on the ball. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Shingleton had four quarterback hits including two sacks as Hart struggled to match the Royals’ aggressiveness at the line of scrimmage. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026

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