# salvation

/sæɫˈveɪʃən/ (US) · /sælvˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. rescue from failure

noun · CEFR B2

something that saves you from a difficult or dangerous situation.

For teachers: the act of saving or protecting from harm, risk, or destruction; often refers to a person or thing that provides this rescue.

- The new investment was the company's salvation after a very difficult year.
- For many small businesses in the region, the government's emergency grant proved to be their only salvation during the economic downturn.

### 2. religious saving

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the state of being saved from the power of evil or sin.

For teachers: the deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith.

- The priest spoke to the people about finding salvation through prayer.
- The central theme of the sermon focused on the possibility of eternal salvation for those who demonstrate genuine repentance.

### 3. improvement or restoration

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

the process of making something better or fixing its old problems.

For teachers: the process of being restored or improved, specifically by removing poor conditions or moral failings.

- The old building's salvation came when a local group decided to turn it into a library.
- The architect viewed the urban renewal project as the physical salvation of a district that had been neglected for decades.

## Examples

- The new investment was the company's salvation.
- After days of wandering in the desert, the sight of a small village was their salvation.
- The protagonist views his artistic pursuits not merely as a hobby, but as a form of spiritual salvation that offers an escape from his mundane existence.

---

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.