Meaning & use
scrimmages
Last updated
Practice matches or informal contests, especially in American football, used to prepare for real games.
See it in a sentence
The coach scheduled two scrimmages before the season opener.
Fans were allowed to watch the team's preseason scrimmages for free.
A note on using this word
Originally a variant of 'skirmish,' the term became specialized in American football for a practice play or contest.
Words with a similar meaning
practice gamesskirmishes
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To take part in a practice contest or brief skirmish.
The two squads scrimmaged for an hour before the drill ended.
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