scrimmage

/ˈskɹɪmɪd͡ʒ/

//ˈskɹɪmɪd͡ʒ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"scrimmage" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“scrimmage” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #27,635. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#27,635
frequency rank, English
54,294
“S” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A rough fight.

Key facts for scrimmage
PropertyValue
Headwordscrimmage
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈskɹɪmɪd͡ʒ/
Letters9
Frequency rank#27,635
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “scrimmage” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). scrimmage lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around scrimmage (IPA /ˈskɹɪmɪd͡ʒ/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #27,635 among 54,294 “S” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for scrimmage, with forms such as "csrimmage", "sccrimmage", and "scirmmage". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: A corruption of skirmish. The correct English form is scrimmage, spelled S-C-R-I-M-M-A-G-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A rough fight.
  2. 2
    In some team sports, especially soccer, a practice game which does not count on a team's record.
  3. 3
    In American football or Canadian football, a play that begins with a snap from the center while opposing teams are on either side of a line of scrimmage.

Etymology

A corruption of skirmish.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • csrimmage
  • sccrimmage
  • scirmmage
  • scrimage
  • scrimamge
  • scrimmaeg
  • scrimmagge
  • scrimmgae
  • scrmimage
  • scrrimmage
  • srcimmage
  • sscrimmage

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of scrimmage - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

csrimmage2sccrimmage1scirmmage2scrimage1scrimamge2scrimmaeg2scrimmagge1scrimmgae2
Edit distance from "scrimmage"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "scrimmage"?
"scrimmage" is spelled S-C-R-I-M-M-A-G-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈskɹɪmɪd͡ʒ/.
What does "scrimmage" mean?
As a noun, "scrimmage" means: A rough fight.
What are common misspellings of "scrimmage"?
Common misspellings include "csrimmage", "sccrimmage", "scirmmage", "scrimage", "scrimamge". The correct spelling is "scrimmage".
How do you pronounce "scrimmage"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "scrimmage" is /ˈskɹɪmɪd͡ʒ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "scrimmage"?
A corruption of skirmish. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “scrimmage”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-C-R-I-M-M-A-G-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈskɹɪmɪd͡ʒ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list