noun
scrimmage
SKRIH-mihj
Scrimmage (noun) means In American or Canadian football, a play starting when the ball is snapped, or more generally a practice match that doesn't count officially. Example: “The team held a scrimmage before the season opener.”
noun
1
In American or Canadian football, a play starting when the ball is snapped, or more generally a practice match that doesn't count officially.
"The team held a scrimmage before the season opener."
"They ran ten plays from scrimmage in practice."
verb
1
To engage in a scrimmage.
"The two squads scrimmaged for an hour after training."
How to use scrimmage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA practice game, or the specific play-start moment in football where the ball is snapped.
Common pairings
line of scrimmage
hold a scrimmage
scrimmage match
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Word forms
- Plural
- scrimmages
- Third person singular
- scrimmages
- Past tense
- scrimmaged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The team held a _____ before the season opener.
Etymology
A worn-down form of "skirmish," originally meaning a minor scuffle before narrowing to its football sense.
Synonyms
View more →
melee
battle royal
Related words
Rhymes for scrimmage
See all rhymes for scrimmage →Frequently asked questions
What does “scrimmage” mean?
The word “scrimmage” means in American or Canadian football, a play starting when the ball is snapped, or more generally a practice match that doesn't count officially. In plain terms, a practice game, or the specific play-start moment in football where the ball is snapped.
How do you pronounce “scrimmage”?
“Scrimmage” is pronounced SKRIH-mihj (/ˈskɹɪməd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “scrimmage” in a sentence?
Here is “scrimmage” used in a sentence: “The team held a scrimmage before the season opener.”
What part of speech is “scrimmage”?
Depending on how it is used, “scrimmage” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “scrimmage” have?
“Scrimmage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in American or Canadian football, a play starting when the ball is snapped, or more generally a practice match that doesn't count officially.
