Salvage definition: the act of saving a ship or its cargo from perils of the seas.. See examples of SALVAGE used in a sentence. Learn the English definition and meaning of Salvage with examples, pronunciation, and translations to enhance your vocabulary. Salvage is the act of saving something from loss, damage, or destruction, or the property so saved. It can also refer to the compensation paid for rescuing a ship or its cargo, or the value or proceeds of salvaged goods. The meaning of SALVAGE is 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. How to use salvage in a sentence.