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

Every inch of the home was approached with thoughtfulness and restraint — rather than demolish and rebuild, Kolb and team sought to retain as much of the original structure and material as possible, sourcing new elements from salvage to reduce landfill and ensure authenticity. —Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025

The remaining amount of the bill the county is stuck with over the boat's salvage efforts is expected to be footed by the parks department, possibly its emergency maintenance fund, according to County Board Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman. —Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Verb

After an error-ridden, lackadaisical loss on Saturday, the Mets still had a golden opportunity to lock down a win on Sunday and salvage the series. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

About 70% of dismantled building materials were recycled or salvaged Breaking apart the convention center was among the most complicated projects in O'Rourke's history, said CEO Michele O'Rourke. —Sydney Franklin, The Enquirer, 10 Aug. 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