scrum
Americannoun
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a rugby play in which three members of each team line up opposite one another with a group of two and a group of three players behind them: the ball is then rolled between the opposing front lines and players attempt to kick the ball backward to a teammate.
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a project management method often used in agile development, centering around a small team with a schedule of short, fixed-length work cycles, each of which is used to complete some chunk of a complex or ongoing project.
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a place or situation of confusion and racket; hubbub.
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a chaotic, rushed attempt by multiple reporters to question one or more politicians, celebrities, etc..
The minister always left meetings through a back door to avoid the daily scrum.
verb (used without object)
noun
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rugby the act or method of restarting play after an infringement when the two opposing packs of forwards group together with heads down and arms interlocked and push to gain ground while the scrum half throws the ball in and the hookers attempt to scoop it out to their own team. A scrum is usually called by the referee ( set scrum ) but may be formed spontaneously ( loose scrum )
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informal a disorderly struggle
verb
Etymology
Origin of scrum
First recorded in 1885–90; short for scrummage
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It's not often BBC Radio 1 come to the Scrum V desk looking for help lining up a guest.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
Scrum dominance over Ireland resulted in the second-half sin-binning of prop Niamh O'Dowd, which helped England score two tries and swing the game in their favour.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2025
"I feel so sorry for Ben Thomas," former Wales fly-half James Hook told the Scrum V podcast.
From BBC • Feb. 9, 2025
Scrum for Scotland just inside the English half.
From The Guardian • Feb. 5, 2022
Scrum caps are things that some players wear to protect their heads in rugby.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
