Skirmish Meaning in English
word
ˈskɝmɪʃ
SKUR-mish
skˈɜːmɪʃ
SKUR-mish
Definition
A short, small fight or argument, usually between small groups or as part of a larger conflict. It can also mean a brief, minor confrontation in sports or discussions.
Usage & Nuances
'Skirmish' is more formal than 'fight' and often used for military, sports, or minor argument contexts. Not for big battles or strong disputes. Collocates with 'minor', 'brief', and 'military'.
Spanish: escaramuza - enfrentamiento menorPortuguese (BR): escaramuça - confronto menorPortuguese (PT): escaramuça - confronto menorChinese (Simplified): 小规模冲突 - 小争执Chinese (Traditional): 小規模衝突 - 小爭執Hindi: झड़प - छोटी लड़ाईArabic: مناوشة - اشتباك صغيرBengali: সংক্ষিপ্ত দ্বন্দ্ব - ছোটখাটো সংঘর্ষRussian: стычка - схваткаJapanese: 小競り合い（こぜりあい）Vietnamese: cuộc đụng độ nhỏ - cuộc giao tranh nhỏKorean: 소규모 충돌 - 작은 언쟁Turkish: çatışma (küçük) - atışma (küçük tartışma)Urdu: جھڑپ - چھوٹی لڑائیIndonesian: bentrokan kecil - perkelahian kecil
Example Sentences
There was a skirmish between the two teams during the game.
basic
The soldiers had a brief skirmish at the border.
basic
The argument turned into a verbal skirmish.
basic
A minor skirmish broke out before the main battle started.
natural
They had a little skirmish over whose turn it was to do the dishes.
natural
Online debates often turn into a skirmish of quick comments.
natural