# salvage

/ˈsæɫvədʒ/ (US) · /sˈælvɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/salvage
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to rescue property

verb · CEFR B2

to save something from a fire, a wreck, or a bad situation so it can be used again.

For teachers: to rescue property from potential destruction, such as a shipwreck or fire, to prevent total loss. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- The divers managed to salvage several gold coins from the sunken ship.
- After the warehouse fire, the owners spent weeks trying to salvage any equipment that hadn't been damaged by smoke or water.

### 2. to save a situation

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to try to fix a bad situation or relationship so it is not a total failure.

For teachers: to preserve or recover something intangible, such as a reputation or a relationship, from failure or ruin.

- He tried to salvage his reputation by apologizing for his mistakes.
- The legal team worked tirelessly to salvage the merger after the lead investor unexpectedly withdrew their financial backing.

### 3. rescued items

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the things that are saved from a disaster, or the act of saving them.

For teachers: the act of rescuing a ship or its cargo from peril; also refers to the property so rescued or the compensation paid for the rescue.

- The company sold the salvage from the wreck to a scrap metal dealer.
- Under maritime law, the crew was entitled to a significant portion of the salvage after bringing the abandoned vessel safely to port.

### 4. recycled materials

noun · CEFR B2

parts of old buildings or cars that are taken away to be sold and used again.

For teachers: materials or components recovered from discarded items for the purpose of reuse or recycling.

- We went to a salvage yard to find a door for our old house.
- The architect incorporated architectural salvage into the new design, using reclaimed timber and vintage light fixtures to add character.

## Examples

- We managed to salvage some old photos from the flooded basement.
- Divers spent weeks at the site trying to salvage valuable cargo from the sunken vessel before the winter storms arrived.
- The legal team worked tirelessly to salvage the company's reputation after the scandal, focusing on transparency and immediate structural reform to regain public trust.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.