What does scrimmage mean?
A scrimmage can be either a noisy, informal fight or a sporting practice match. The military-flavored sense is especially familiar: a disagreement, confrontation, or unruly gathering may be described as a scrimmage when it becomes disorganized and rough. In American football, a scrimmage is a practice game in which two teams, or selected units from opposing teams, compete; rugby also uses the word for a similar practice match. As a verb, scrimmage means to take part in such a fight or game. The word is useful because it can describe both physical disorder and organized sporting activity without necessarily suggesting formal competition. It is generally informal outside descriptions of sports, where it is standard terminology. Its origin is American and connected with football, although the precise source of the word remains uncertain.
An informal, often chaotic fight or conflict, or a practice game between teams or groups within a team.
"A scrimmage between opposing fans delayed the start of the match."
The sporting sense is particularly associated with American football and rugby. In other contexts, the word is informal and emphasizes disorder.
To take part in a practice game or an informal fight.
"The two squads scrimmaged for an hour before the main game."
This use is especially common in descriptions of team sports.
The plural is used for separate fights, practice games, or sporting encounters; the count noun normally takes "a" or a number.
"The teams have scheduled three scrimmages before the tournament."
One word can mean both a football practice and a chaotic fight in which nobody seems to be keeping score.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scrimmage come from?
Scrimmage is an American English word that appeared in the mid-19th century in connection with football, where it referred to a practice or informal match. Its earlier historical origin is uncertain: proposed links with words such as scrim and skirmish have been suggested, but no derivation is firmly established. Over time, the word acquired the broader sense of a rough or disorderly fight.
Related word forms
How scrimmage is actually used
In its sporting sense, scrimmage is especially common in American English and is also used for rugby practice matches. The conflict sense is informal and may suggest disorder, rough behaviour, or a lack of formal rules. It should not be confused with the unrelated phrase "line of scrimmage," which means the imaginary line separating the two teams in American football.
Easily confused with scrimmage
A skirmish is usually a brief, relatively minor conflict, whereas a scrimmage often suggests a confused, disorganized fight or, in sport, a practice match.