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 of skirmish

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

Instead, an arcane academic skirmish has devolved into open hostilities. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026

As the skirmish continued, the trooper pulled out his Taser and threatened to shock Morales, though the trooper wrote in a probable cause affidavit that Morales was not struck by the probes. —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026

Verb

The ground will quake further, personalities will skirmish harder, hate will pour stronger. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Feb. 2026

The Israeli army and Hamas are still skirmishing along the cease-fire line. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 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