Meaning & use
skirmish
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Meanings
nouncountable
A brief, minor fight or clash, especially between small groups rather than full armies.
Grammar: Countable: 'a skirmish,' 'several skirmishes.' Often used with 'between' or 'with.'
Patterns
- a skirmish between A and B
- a skirmish with someone
- a skirmish over something
There was a brief skirmish between the two patrols near the border.
The soldiers were involved in a skirmish with enemy forces.
A skirmish broke out over the disputed territory.
nouncountablefigurative
A small argument or dispute, often not serious.
Grammar: Used figuratively for verbal conflicts: 'a skirmish over money.'
Patterns
- a skirmish over something
- a skirmish between A and B
The meeting turned into a skirmish over the budget.
There was a minor skirmish between the two departments about the new policy.
verbintransitive
To take part in a brief, minor fight or clash.
Grammar: No object: 'They skirmished near the river.' Often followed by 'with.'
Patterns
- skirmish with someone
- skirmish over something
The troops skirmished with the rebels for several hours.
The two sides skirmished over the disputed border.
Word forms
| plural | skirmishes |
|---|---|
| third person singular | skirmishes |
| past tense | skirmished |
| past participle | skirmished |
| -ing form | skirmishing |
Common combinations
- a brief skirmish
- A brief skirmish broke out between the two groups.
- a minor skirmish
- The minor skirmish was over quickly.
- skirmish over something
- They had a skirmish over the last piece of cake.
- skirmish with someone
- The patrol skirmished with enemy soldiers.
- political skirmish
- The debate turned into a political skirmish.
Synonyms and how they differ
- battle
- A battle is larger and more serious; a skirmish is brief and minor.
- clash
- Similar, but 'clash' can be more general and doesn't always imply a small scale.
- scuffle
- A scuffle is a short, disorderly fight, often physical and without weapons; a skirmish can involve weapons and military groups.
Opposites
Word family
- skirmisher noun
- A soldier who takes part in a skirmish, often in a small group ahead of the main army.
Commonly confused: skirmish or scrimmage?
skirmish vs scrimmage
In sports, a scrimmage is a practice game; a skirmish is a small fight.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'skirmish' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A skirmish is a brief, minor fight, so option A fits. Option B contradicts the meaning; option C uses 'skirmish' as a transitive verb incorrectly; option D uses it for a physical sensation, which is not the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “skirmish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.