skirmish

1 of 2

noun

skir·​mish ˈskər-mish 

1

: a minor fight in war usually incidental to larger movements

2

a

: a brisk preliminary verbal conflict

b

: a minor dispute or contest between opposing parties

the debate touched off a skirmish

skirmish

2 of 2

verb

skirmished; skirmishing; skirmishes

intransitive verb

1

: to engage in a skirmish

2

: to search about (as for supplies) : scout around

skirmisher noun

Synonyms

Noun

• encounter

Verb

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

Examples of skirmish in a Sentence

Noun

Skirmishes broke out between rebel groups.

Violent skirmishes with the enemy continue despite talks of peace.

Verb

Rebel groups are skirmishing with military forces.

The presidential candidates skirmished over their economic plans.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Yet Villa were short of cash and the lack of financial headroom brought skirmishes with profit and sustainability rules (PSR). —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 8 July 2025

Could a Stronger Federal System Have Prevented the Texas Disaster and is this even the question to ask? America’s approach to disaster relief has long been one of the recurring skirmishes in the larger political theatre of governance. —Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

Verb

Union and Confederate sympathizers skirmished in the Hill Country, but no fortifications were built around the city until federal troops threatened distantly from Galveston, the Red River and the Rio Grande Valley. —Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Outside the Arizona statehouse, a social media video showed protesters jeering at and then skirmishing with a masked man Saturday, who eventually pulled out a handgun, causing the crowd to scatter. —Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English skyrmissh, alteration (influenced by Anglo-French eskermir to fence (with swords), protect, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scirmen to protect, scirm shield) of skarmuch, from Anglo-French escarmuche, from Old Italian scaramuccia — more at screen

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

skirmish

1 of 2 noun

skir·​mish ˈskər-mish 

1

: a minor fight between small bodies of troops

2

: a minor dispute or contest

skirmish

2 of 2 verb

1

: to engage in a skirmish

2

: to search about (as for supplies)

skirmisher noun