salvage

1 of 2

noun

sal·​vage ˈsal-vij 

1

a

: compensation paid for saving a ship or its cargo from the perils of the sea or for the lives and property rescued in a wreck

b

: the act of saving or rescuing a ship or its cargo

c

: the act of saving or rescuing property in danger (as from fire)

2

a

: property saved from destruction in a calamity (such as a wreck or fire)

b

: something extracted (as from rubbish) as valuable or useful

salvage

2 of 2

verb

salvaged; salvaging

transitive verb

: to rescue or save especially from wreckage or ruin

salvageability

ˌsal-vi-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

salvageable

ˈsal-vi-jə-bəl 

adjective

salvager noun

Examples of salvage in a Sentence

Noun

The ship was beyond salvage.

the salvage from the wrecked ship

Verb

Divers salvaged some of the sunken ship's cargo.

Few of their possessions were salvaged from the fire.

He is trying to salvage his marriage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And the Honda was also sold to a salvage dealer in Waterbury for $800, according to DMV records. —Dave Altimari, ProPublica, 5 Jan. 2025

The Americans knew that conventional salvage techniques would be impossible at such depths and in some of the roughest seas in the world – much less sending down divers. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 4 Jan. 2025

Verb

There's also the arrival of Shane's mother Kitty (Molly Shannon), who shows up to stomp all over the honeymoon his new bride Rachel is attempting to salvage. —Griff Griffin, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

One team that could make sense to salvage his offseason is the Blue Jays, who have struggled to find players willing to take their free-agent offers. —Jim Bowden, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Middle French, from salver to save — more at save

First Known Use

Noun

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1889, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

salvage

1 of 2 noun

sal·​vage ˈsal-vij 

1

: money paid for saving a wrecked or endangered ship or its cargo or passengers

2

: the act of saving a ship or possessions in danger of being lost

3

: something saved or recovered (as from a wreck or fire)

salvage

2 of 2 verb

salvaged; salvaging

: to rescue or save especially from wreckage or ruin

salvageable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

salvager noun

Medical Definition

salvage

1 of 2 noun

sal·​vage ˈsal-vij 

: the act or an instance of salvaging

thrombolytic therapy has permitted salvage of some limbs

—Richard Lennihan et al.

salvage

2 of 2 transitive verb

salvaged; salvaging

: to save (an organ, tissue, or patient) by preventive or therapeutic measures

a salvaged cancer patient

salvaged lung tissue

Legal Definition

salvage

noun

sal·​vage ˈsal-vij 

1

a

: compensation paid for saving a ship or its cargo from the perils of the sea or for recovering it from an actual loss (as in a shipwreck)

b

: the act of saving or rescuing a ship or its cargo

c

: the act of saving or rescuing property in danger (as from fire)

2

a

: property saved from destruction (as in a wreck or fire)

b

: damaged property acquired by an insurer after payment for the loss compare abandonment sense 1d