shipwreck

1 of 2

noun

ship·​wreck ˈship-ˌrek 

1

: a wrecked ship or its parts

2

: the destruction or loss of a ship

3

: an irretrievable loss or failure

Their relationship was a shipwreck.

… unwittingly assured the shipwreck of his career.

—Bruce Hutchison

shipwreck

2 of 2

verb

shipwrecked; shipwrecking; shipwrecks

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to experience shipwreck

b

: ruin

2

: to destroy (a ship) by grounding or foundering

Synonyms of shipwreck

Noun

• wrecking
• wreck
• sinking
• shipwrecking

Verb

• wreck

Examples of shipwreck in a Sentence

Noun

Only a few sailors survived the shipwreck.

The crew narrowly avoided shipwreck.

Divers searched the sunken shipwreck.

Verb

the yachtsman fell asleep at the wheel and shipwrecked his ketch on the rocks

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The film’s direction, combined with the film’s cinematography, focuses on the mythological essence of Elefsina and the mysterious shipwrecks hidden in the darkness of its seabed. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026

At Punta Papa, divers can explore a WWII shipwreck, while, closer to the harbor, the Grotte di Pilato is an impressive series of tunnels and fish ponds carved into the tuff by ancient Romans, who used them to breed moray eels. —Kristina Kasparian, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026

Verb

Your host, Miranda, offers a back story to the project that involves her family of scientists being shipwrecked on an island off South America upon which many of the dinosaurs somehow survived to the present day. —Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2026

Get shipwrecked on a Robinson Crusoe beach with a picnic of yellowfin ceviche? —Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of earlier shipwrack, from Middle English schipwrak, from Old English scipwræc, from scip ship + wræc something driven by the sea — more at wrack

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

shipwreck

1 of 2 noun

ship·​wreck -ˌrek 

1

: a wrecked ship

2

: the destruction or loss of a ship

shipwreck

2 of 2 verb

1

: to cause to experience shipwreck

a storm that shipwrecked the sailors

2

: to destroy (a ship) by driving ashore or sinking