line of scrimmage

noun phrase

: an imaginary line in football that is parallel to the goal lines and tangent to the nose of the ball laid on the ground and marks the position of the ball at the start of each down

Examples of line of scrimmage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But from the first whistle to the last, the Bruins’ defense was everywhere, swarming the signal caller behind the line of scrimmage and giving him no time for plays to develop downfield. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

The team’s own highlights package of the victory is marred by defenders beating him almost immediately off the line of scrimmage. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Simmons’ fourth-and-3 attempt was batted down near the line of scrimmage. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026

Sitting on a flat route near the line of scrimmage, Zayas one-handed a Joseph pass and returned it 51 yards, untouched, to give Penn State a 10-0 lead early in the second. — CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for line of scrimmage

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Kids Definition

line of scrimmage

: an imaginary line in football parallel to the goal lines and running through the place the ball is laid before each play begins