scrum

noun

Save Word

\ ˈskrəm

Definition of scrum

1a or scrummage \ ˈskrə-mij

\ : a rugby play in which the forwards of each side come together in a tight formation and struggle to gain possession of the ball using their feet when it is tossed in among them also : the arrangement of players in a scrum

b : a usually brief and disorderly struggle or fight : scrape, scuffle

2a British : madhouse sense 2

b : a usually tightly packed or disorderly crowd : throng

Other Words from scrum Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about scrum

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for scrum

Synonyms

army,
bike
[chiefly Scottish],
cram,
crowd,
crush,
drove,
flock,
herd,
horde,
host,
legion,
mass,
mob,
multitude,
press,
rout,
swarm,
throng

Examples of scrum in a Sentence

I had to fight my way through the scrum of holiday shoppers at the mall. when the server spilled a drink on a customer, they got into a bit of a scrum before being separated

Recent Examples on the Web By now motor coordination had jumped out the window and plummeted three stories to its death, so his cheery gesture was more like a rugby scrum half slamming Romesh on the way to the locker. — Yudhanjaya Wijeratne, Wired, "The Future of Work: ‘Work Ethics,’ by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne," 13 Nov. 2020 Tempers flared as several players, including Rivers and Lions linebacker Reggie Ragland, began shoving each other in a scrum. — Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, "Why Detroit Lions’ Danny Shelton was flagged so late vs. Colts: 'Chaos' delayed call," 2 Nov. 2020 None of them were going to break a manicured fingernail in the scrum. — Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, "The Rich Mothers of the Insurrection," 3 Feb. 2021 An officer is seen using two hands to shove one person, then others, followed by a short scrum. — Washington Post, "Police deploy pepper spray in confrontation outside cellblock holding people arrested during demonstrations," 16 Dec. 2020 Rienas was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty before the opening kickoff when the two teams jawed at each other in a scrum at midfield. — Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football signee Donovan Edwards 'the real deal' in West Bloomfield's convincing win," 9 Jan. 2021 Johnson emerged from Friday’s game no worse for wear after jamming his right shoulder in a loose-ball scrum late in the fourth quarter. — Jeff Mcdonald, ExpressNews.com, "Spurs rule White out for Jazz game," 2 Jan. 2021 The emotion in the Maryland men’s basketball team’s postgame celebration was palpable, as players engulfed coach Mark Turgeon in a raucous locker room scrum. — Daniel Oyefusi, baltimoresun.com, "Three takeaways from Maryland men’s basketball’s 70-64 win over No. 6 Wisconsin," 29 Dec. 2020 Twitter and other tech platforms might become more censorious, not less, and conservatives aren’t likely to be favored in that scrum. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Trump vs. a GOP Senate," 23 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scrum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about scrum

Dictionary Entries near scrum

Statistics for scrum

Last Updated

21 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Scrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrum. Accessed 27 Feb. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for scrum

scrum

noun

English Language Learners Definition of scrum

: a way of starting play again in which players from each team come together and try to get control of the ball by pushing against each other and using their feet when the ball is thrown in between them

: the group of players who are involved in a scrum

: a large group of people who are close together in one place

See the full definition for scrum in the English Language Learners Dictionary