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

Oil prices jumped 6% on the news, following a violent weekend of skirmishes in the Persian Gulf as both sides attempted to assert control over the strait. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 July 2026

Negotiations have yet to produce a major breakthrough as skirmishes over the Strait continued this week. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 11 July 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

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