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

By the time the combine’s midweek scrimmages take place, there seems to be no more data to collect. —Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026

The elder Etienne, a 2021 first-round pick, collected 5,136 scrimmage yards and 32 touchdowns during his five-year stint in the AFC South before signing with his younger brother’s division rivals in free agency. —Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026

Verb

Incoming Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball players Taylen Kinney and Davion Adkins participated in six days of drills and scrimmages together at USA Basketball men’s Under 18 training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado. —Gary Bedore may 29, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026

And once she is cleared to scrimmage with practice players, the Sky will be able to set a realistic timeline for her return to practice — and live action games. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 21 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