1
a
or scrummage : 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
2
a
British : madhouse sense 2
b
: a usually tightly packed or disorderly crowd : throng
scrummage intransitive verb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Combs’ family leave court to media scrum, supporters Sean Combs’s family left the courthouse after his sentencing to face a media scrum. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 In Week 2, Washington fielded a booming punt against New England, made one diving defender miss, ran into a scrum, spun his way out of it, bounced it to the outside and raced 74 yards to the end zone. Mike Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 Also in March — to a rising din of dire prognostications about De Luca and Abdy’s tenure as co-chairpersons/chief executives — Warner punted the release of One Battle After Another (from the financial doldrums of August into its current date smack in the middle of the awards-season scrum). Chris Lee, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025 Yet during a virtual media scrum this week, Boley deflected praise to third-year o-line coach Terry Heffernan. David Teel, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scrum

Word History

Etymology

short for scrummage, alteration of scrimmage

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of scrum was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrum. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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