wreckage

noun

wreck·​age ˈre-kij 

1

: the act of wrecking : the state of being wrecked

2

a

: something that has been wrecked

b

: broken and disordered parts or material from something wrecked

Synonyms

• devastation
• destruction
• havoc
• demolition
• loss
• extinction

Examples of wreckage in a Sentence

Workers sifted through the wreckage of the building, searching for bodies.

They cleared the wreckage from the track.

Recent Examples on the Web

Authorities were notified of a midair collision in an area just south of Steinbach shortly before 9 a.m. RCMP, fire crews, and emergency medical services responded to the scene and located the wreckage of two small single-engine aircraft. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025

The content may be used in future stories depicting the wreckage in central Texas as communities continue to grapple with the tragedy. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 8 July 2025

The National Transportation Safety Board stated that an investigator was expected to arrive at the crash site on Tuesday and that the wreckage would be transported to a facility for further analysis. —Dan Gooding gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025

Workers could be seen collecting personal items and family photos from the wreckage. —Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

wreckage

noun

wreck·​age ˈrek-ij 

1

a

: the act of wrecking

b

: the state of being wrecked

2

: the remains of a wreck