salvage

[sal-vij]

noun

1. 1. the act of saving a ship or its cargo from perils of the seas.

   2. the property so saved.

   3. compensation given to those who voluntarily save a ship or its cargo.

2. 1. the act of saving anything from fire, danger, etc.

   2. the property so saved.

3. the value or proceeds upon sale of goods recovered from a shipwreck, fire, etc.

4. the act of saving something of use or value from destruction, damage, ruin, loss, or waste.

   The salvage of carcass parts for pharmaceutical or research use is permitted if it does not interfere with sanitary operations.

verb (used with object)

salvaged, salvaging 

1. to save or rescue (property) from shipwreck, fire, or other peril.

   Synonyms: recover, retrieve

2. to save from destruction, damage, ruin, or loss.

   A new achievement was the only way to salvage his reputation.

3. to preserve (a useful or valuable part) from something otherwise wasted, discarded, or deemed a failure: I tried to salvage the unburnt part of the cornbread.

   We purchase end-of-life vehicles and salvage scrap metal.

   I tried to salvage the unburnt part of the cornbread.

   The team has a chance to salvage some degree of glory from a dismal season.

salvage

/ ˈsælvɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act, process, or business of rescuing vessels or their cargoes from loss at sea

2. 1. the act of saving any goods or property in danger of damage or destruction

   2. ( as modifier )

      a salvage operation

3. the goods or property so saved

4. compensation paid for the salvage of a vessel or its cargo

5. the proceeds from the sale of salvaged goods or property

verb

1. to save or rescue (goods or property) from fire, shipwreck, etc

2. to gain (something beneficial) from a failure

   she salvaged little from the broken marriage

Other Word Forms

• salvageable adjective
• salvager noun
• unsalvaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of salvage¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Old French; save ¹, -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of salvage¹

C17: from Old French, from Medieval Latin salvāgium, from salvāre to _save ¹

Example Sentences

All around him others were embarking on a similar journey, stacking whatever they had salvaged of their belongings onto whatever transportation they could manage.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After the bombing, when Baki took the few boxes of paperwork she could salvage from the office to a temporary office in Los Angeles, the calls continued.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There’s bipartisan support for salvaging electronic waste to reuse metals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The workers quietly and carefully tackle each room of the house while the garage has been turned into another cleaning zone where they box salvaged items.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

City were on their way to making it back-to-back wins in the Champions League this season but Dier's nerveless, last-minute penalty salvaged a draw for Monaco.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• reclaim 
• recover 
• redeem 
• regain 
• restore 
• retrieve