wreckage

noun

wreck·​age ˈre-kij How to pronounce wreckage (audio)
1
: the act of wrecking : the state of being wrecked
2
a
: something that has been wrecked
b
: broken and disordered parts or material from something wrecked

Examples of wreckage in a Sentence

Workers sifted through the wreckage of the building, searching for bodies. They cleared the wreckage from the track.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sole apparent survivor of Air India crash walks away from wreckage If a plane's tail section sheers off, a seat closer to the front will typically be safer. Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 14 June 2025 According to Braithwaite, this relative position in relation to the wreckage may have been a key factor. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 The wreckage The plane that had just a minute ago been safely on the Ahmedabad runway had now gone up in flames, just under a mile from the airport. Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 June 2025 Hundreds of ceramic items were found among the wreckage, including pitchers and plates, experts said. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for wreckage

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wreckage was in 1837

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wreckage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreckage. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

wreckage

noun
wreck·​age ˈrek-ij How to pronounce wreckage (audio)
1
a
: the act of wrecking
b
: the state of being wrecked
2
: the remains of a wreck

More from Merriam-Webster on wreckage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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