salvage

1 of 2

noun

sal·​vage ˈsal-vij How to pronounce salvage (audio)
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 noun
salvageable 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
The company was granted the salvage rights to the shipwreck in 1994 by the U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia. CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024 City officials said salvage yards are the most likely businesses to take advantage of the change. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2024 But small touches of trips to salvage yards are judiciously placed everywhere. Page Leggett, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Experts prepare for salvage operation of U.S. Navy surveillance plane stuck on Hawaiian coral reef. CBS News, 2 Dec. 2023 The author, in his high school and early college years, moved next door to a salvage yard. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023 The hidden reality was that inside the Glomar was a submersible vessel with a huge claw, like something out of a young James Cameron’s wildest salvage adventure dreams. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2023 Virginia Beach Police Department An initial attempt to recover the car was made on Sunday afternoon, using a salvage barge and a professional salvage dive team from a private company, city officials said. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2024 The salvage effort was completed Saturday following a 10-hour operation, according to Cmdr. Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2024
Verb
In Montana, individuals are allowed to salvage parts from roadkilled deer, elk, moose, and antelope, but not bighorns, which is why the culprit attempted to falsify his wildlife mortality report. Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 21 Mar. 2024 Now, Jackson deleted a video celebrating the bill and is desperately trying to salvage his online reputation. Thomas Germain / Gizmodo, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024 Monorail Music, an independent record store based in Glasgow, is selling three of the backdrops that were hung in an attempt to decorate the warehouse, after they were salvaged from the trash by a friend of Michael Kasparis, the store’s online manager. Issy Ronald, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 The rules are in place so that the meat of the animal can be salvaged and something positive can come from the death. Victor Mather, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The allegations infuriated politicians in the region, leaving the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, to try to salvage relations. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 The mind may concoct heart wrenching scenarios in which the breakup never happened, or where there’s still a chance to salvage the relationship. Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 The moose was retrieved and its meat salvaged and processed. CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024 Persian and Moroccan rugs were once residents of Indian Village homes, pews were recovered from closed churches and a hanging planter was found and salvaged — a dog cage left on the side of Joy Road, painted gold and made anew. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'salvage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of salvage was in 1645

Dictionary Entries Near salvage

Cite this Entry

“Salvage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salvage. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

salvage

1 of 2 noun
sal·​vage ˈsal-vij How to pronounce salvage (audio)
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 adjective
salvager noun

Medical Definition

salvage

1 of 2 noun
sal·​vage ˈsal-vij How to pronounce salvage (audio)
: the act or an instance of salvaging
thrombolytic therapy has permitted salvage of some limbsRichard 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 How to pronounce salvage (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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