skirmish

1 of 2

noun

skir·​mish ˈskər-mish How to pronounce skirmish (audio)
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

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
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.
Noun
The protests were substantially peaceful, although small skirmishes resulting in arrests, damage to property and injuries broke out when police tried to disperse the crowd with rubber bullets and tear gas. Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 22 June 2025 Eisman drew similarities between the rocky trade environment and lead-up to World War I, likely referring to a series of treaties forged in the decades before the war designed to settle regional skirmishes that, in reality, created two massive, and eventually opposing, alliances. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Verb
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 But England is also undergoing a violent identity crisis as the Plantagenets skirmish among themselves and Henry Tudor schemes to take power. Alida Becker, New York Times, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for skirmish

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of skirmish was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Skirmish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skirmish. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

skirmish

1 of 2 noun
skir·​mish ˈskər-mish How to pronounce skirmish (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on skirmish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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