A scuffle is a brief, confused fight or struggle, usually involving pushing, shoving, and wrestling rather than serious punches. When two students get into a scuffle over who gets to use the basketball first, they might grab at each other and tumble around for a few seconds before a teacher separates them. It's messy and chaotic, but it's over quickly.

The word suggests something disorganized and impromptu, not a planned confrontation. In a scuffle, people are often grabbing at each other's clothes or grappling clumsily rather than throwing calculated punches. You might see a scuffle break out at a concert when too many people try to squeeze through a doorway at once, or witness squirrels having a brief scuffle over an acorn in your backyard.

Scuffle can also describe the sound of shuffling feet during such a struggle. You might hear the scuffle of feet in the hallway and wonder what's happening. The word captures both the action and the scraping, shuffling sounds that go with it. Children or adults sometimes scuffle playfully with friends or siblings, and the word reminds us that not every physical conflict is serious or dangerous.