Word
wreckage
Phoneticswreck·age, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɛkədʒ/
UK/ɹˈɛkɪdʒ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the broken pieces that are left after a vehicle, building, or large object has been destroyed. You usually see this after a crash or a bad storm.
n. the remains of something that has been severely damaged or destroyed, such as a vehicle, aircraft, or structure. Often refers to the physical debris resulting from a collision or disaster.
Examples
“Divers found the wreckage of the old ship on the ocean floor.”
“Emergency crews worked through the night to clear the wreckage from the highway after the multi-car collision.”
“The investigators meticulously documented every piece of wreckage scattered across the field to determine whether mechanical failure or pilot error caused the mid-air disintegration.”
Examples
simple
“Divers found the wreckage of the old ship on the ocean floor.”
contextual
“Emergency crews worked through the night to clear the wreckage from the highway after the multi-car collision.”
complex
“The investigators meticulously documented every piece of wreckage scattered across the field to determine whether mechanical failure or pilot error caused the mid-air disintegration.”
Pitfall
The wreckages were everywhere
The wreckage was everywhere
Wreckage is uncountable and does not take a plural form; use 'pieces of wreckage' if you need to count individual items.
Real-World Examples
“The plane was 9.45km (31,000 feet) over Scotland when the bomb went off, and the wreckage tumbled onto the town of Lockerbie, destroying an entire city block and killing 11 people on the ground.” “The wreckage of the two cars remained on the scene, and the M9 stayed closed off in both directions.” Etymology
From wreck + -age.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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