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 of wreckage

• 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

Bystander video showed a fiery crater gouged into Military Trail, a major highway, with the pavement buckled and shattered around the wreckage. — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

Chapman urged community members who find pieces of wreckage to not touch or move the pieces and to contact the NTSB or local authorities. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026

Investigators have been scouring the area for wreckage, collecting dashcam video and speaking to witnesses. — Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Recovered wreckage is being retained for analysis, and officials urged anyone who encounters debris to leave it untouched and notify authorities. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

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