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

The 49ers are now midway through their spring practice session and have introduced referees and scrimmage settings into the fold as Albin and Faanes look to find not just their best 11, but also the most versatile players who can check multiple boxes on defense. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026

The scrimmage was free and 27,772 tickets were claimed. —Pat Graham, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

Verb

The squads have scrimmaged each other a bunch — and even have some connective tissue in Brandt Bronico, who is now with CLTFC but played for the Independence for a time — but never in a real setting like this one. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026

Kerr admitted before Sunday’s game that Curry and Porziņģis had not even scrimmaged together in the two months since the Latvian big man arrived at the trade deadline from Atlanta. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026

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