salvage | salvager | salvageable

The word ‘salvage’ was once most commonly seen in the context of rescuing goods from a ship that has been sunk or damaged. While it is still used in that sense, in an everyday social and professional context it is more commonly used to express reclaiming something, such as pride or reputation, or managing to get something useful out of a difficult situation.

1. Talks broke down last night but we’re still hopeful we can salvage something from the meeting.

2. Robert is a salvager. He sorts through discarded items to find materials for his building projects.

3. After the fire, very little of the equipment in the factory was salvageable.