skirmish

1 of 3

noun (1)

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 3

verb

skirmished; skirmishing; skirmishes

intransitive verb

1

: to engage in a skirmish

2

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

skirmisher noun

skirmisher

3 of 3

noun (2)

skir·​mish·​er

-shə(r)

plural -s

: one of a group of soldiers deployed in extended order as an advanced guard, a small independent attack force, or as cover for the front and flanks of a column

Synonyms of skirmish

Noun (1)

• encounter

Verb

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

Examples of skirmish in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton. — Gabriel Sama, Mercury News, 21 June 2026

Continue reading … — Two arrested as skirmishes erupt outside courthouse after Karmelo Anthony verdict. — FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026

Verb

Over the last few months, the two have occasionally skirmished along their winding, porous frontier as tension has escalated. — ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026

Poulin lay prone on the ice for a moment before getting to her knees, grimacing in obvious pain as the two teams skirmished up the ice. — Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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 (1)

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