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
salvaged; salvaging
: to rescue or save especially from wreckage or ruin
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
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
And after being peppered with 13 shots in the third period, Wallstedt kept his composure and helped the Wild salvage the extra point.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2025
Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Pieces of wood and metal from the existing scaffolding were salvaged to construct a staircase and a custom kitchen.
—Valentina Raggi, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for salvage
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Noun
Informal salvage businesses buy old batteries and melt the lead in makeshift furnaces, releasing waste that ends up in the air, soil, and water.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
And after being peppered with 13 shots in the third period, Wallstedt kept his composure and helped the Wild salvage the extra point.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
The cryptocurrency industry’s top legislative priority is facing yet more headwinds shortly after CEOs huddled with senators to salvage bipartisan talks.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Pieces of wood and metal from the existing scaffolding were salvaged to construct a staircase and a custom kitchen.
—Valentina Raggi, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for salvage
Cite this Entry
“Salvage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salvage. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
salvager
noun
Medical Definition
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
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