scrimmage

1 of 2

noun

scrim·​mage ˈskri-mij 

1

a

: a minor battle : skirmish

b

: a confused fight : scuffle

2

a

: the interplay between two football teams that begins with the snap of the ball and continues until the ball is dead

b

: practice play (as in football or basketball) between two squads

scrimmage

2 of 2

verb

scrimmaged; scrimmaging

intransitive verb

: to take part in a scrimmage

transitive verb

: to play a scrimmage against

scrimmager noun

Synonyms of scrimmage

Noun

• skirmish
• clash
• battle
• fight

Verb

• fight
• battle
• clash (with)
• war (against)
• skirmish (with)
• combat

Examples of scrimmage in a Sentence

Noun

The first play from scrimmage netted them a touchdown.

the two players got into a scrimmage off the court and got suspended

Verb

Last weekend we scrimmaged against Bell High.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On their second play of scrimmage of the half, Esmailian pulled the ball on a read option. —Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2025

In the two games since, Nix has largely shouldered the Broncos’ offense in Dobbins’ stead, as Denver’s thrown the ball on roughly two-thirds of its plays from scrimmage. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2025

Verb

He’s been cleared to do individual work, but has yet to reach Green’s status level and isn’t scrimmaging, meaning his return likely should still be measured in weeks and still not quite in days. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025

The 27-year-old combo guard scrimmaged against Santa Cruz players on Wednesday, and participated in Warriors practice on Friday afternoon. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English scrymmage, alteration of skyrmissh skirmish

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1536, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing scrimmage

• line of scrimmage
• scrimmage line

Rhymes for scrimmage

• image

Kids Definition

scrimmage

1 of 2 noun

scrim·​mage ˈskrim-ij 

1

: a minor battle : skirmish

2

: the play between two football teams that begins with the snap of the ball

3

: practice play between a team's squads or a practice game between two teams

scrimmage

2 of 2 verb

scrimmaged; scrimmaging

: to take part in a scrimmage

scrimmager noun