noun
flotsam
FLOT-suhm
Flotsam (noun) means Wreckage or debris found floating on water, especially from a shipwreck. Example: “Pieces of flotsam washed up on the beach after the storm.”
noun
1
Wreckage or debris found floating on water, especially from a shipwreck.
"“What about that one?” “That'll do nicely. That gaggle of human flotsam doesn't even belong on the sea.”"
— Shana Gohd, The Siren (2021)
"Pieces of flotsam washed up on the beach after the storm."
"STORAGE boxes -- catchalls for flotsam, jetsam, whatnots and thingamajigs -- are gaining new interest as decorative objects for the home."
— Emily Gwathmey, Storage Box: Catchall's New Life as Eye-Catcher (1991)
How to use flotsam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFloating wreckage or debris.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
flotsam and jetsam
flotsam washed ashore
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Word forms
- Plural
- flotsams
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Pieces of _____ washed up on the beach after the storm.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman floteson, ultimately related to float, with a Latin-derived ending.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “flotsam” mean?
The word “flotsam” means wreckage or debris found floating on water, especially from a shipwreck. In plain terms, floating wreckage or debris.
How do you pronounce “flotsam”?
“Flotsam” is pronounced FLOT-suhm (/ˈflɑtsəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “flotsam” in a sentence?
Here is “flotsam” used in a sentence: “Pieces of flotsam washed up on the beach after the storm.”
What part of speech is “flotsam”?
“Flotsam” is a noun.
Where does the word “flotsam” come from?
The word “flotsam” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman floteson, ultimately related to float, with a Latin-derived ending.
