salvation

noun

sal·​va·​tion sal-ˈvā-shən 

1

a

: deliverance from the power and effects of sin

b

: the agent or means of such saving or deliverance

c

Christian Science : the realization of the supremacy of infinite Mind over all bringing with it the destruction of the illusion of sin, sickness, and death

2

: liberation from ignorance or illusion

3

a

: preservation from destruction or failure : deliverance from danger or difficulty

The shaded garden offered salvation from the sun's heat.

b

: something that saves or delivers from danger or difficulty

Tourism was the city's salvation.

salvational

sal-ˈvā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of salvation

• rescue
• redemption

Examples of salvation in a Sentence

Tourism has been the salvation of the island.

we spent the night in the cellar praying for salvation from the tornadoes

Recent Examples on the Web

The whole album is full of sweaty men driving around alone at night, praying for some rock & roll salvation on the radio. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025

The Vatican is set to settle a longstanding debate over the role of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ’s mother, in salvation. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

But how does one get caught up in such resentment, so as to believe that destruction leads to salvation? —John Archibald, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025

Slather it on, wait for salvation. —Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English salvacion, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin salvation-, salvatio, from salvare to save — more at save

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for salvation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Kids Definition

salvation

noun

sal·​va·​tion sal-ˈvā-shən 

1

: the saving of a person from sin

2

: something that saves

3

: the saving from danger or evil