salvation
sal-VAY-shn
Salvation (noun) means the act of saving someone or something from danger, loss, or harm; deliverance. Example: “The rescue boat arrived just in time and was their salvation.”
noun
1
The act of saving someone or something from danger, loss, or harm; deliverance.
"The rescue boat arrived just in time and was their salvation."
"For the struggling village, the new bridge was nothing short of salvation."
"The new investor was the company's salvation after months of losses."
2
(religion) The state of being saved from sin and its consequences.
"Many hymns speak of hope and the promise of salvation."
"He prayed each night, seeking salvation for his soul."
"The sermon focused on faith as the path to salvation."
"Collective salvation is not possible without personal salvation, but the latter is achievable."
How to use salvation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing rescued or saved — used both in everyday situations and in a religious sense.
Common pairings
salvation from
the road to salvation
a source of salvation
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Word forms
- Plural
- salvations
- Third person singular
- salvations
- Past tense
- salvationed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rescue boat arrived just in time and was their _____.
Etymology
From Latin salvatio, "a saving," from salvare, "to save" — from salvus, "safe."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for salvation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for salvation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “salvation” mean?
The word “salvation” means the act of saving someone or something from danger, loss, or harm; deliverance. In plain terms, being rescued or saved — used both in everyday situations and in a religious sense.
How do you pronounce “salvation”?
“Salvation” is pronounced sal-VAY-shn (/sælˈveɪ.ʃn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “salvation” in a sentence?
Here is “salvation” used in a sentence: “The new investor was the company's salvation after months of losses.”
What is the opposite of “salvation”?
The opposite of “salvation” — its antonyms — are damnation and perdition.
What part of speech is “salvation”?
“Salvation” is a noun.
Where does the word “salvation” come from?
The word “salvation” comes from Latin. From Latin salvatio, "a saving," from salvare, "to save" — from salvus, "safe.".
Is “salvation” a common word?
“Salvation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “salvation” have?
“Salvation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of saving someone or something from danger, loss, or harm; deliverance.
What is the difference between "salvation" and "redemption"?
"Salvation" refers to being saved or rescued from danger, harm, or sin, while "redemption" emphasizes being freed, restored, or bought back, often after wrongdoing. In religious use, salvation is the state of being saved, whereas redemption is the act or process that makes it possible.
Is "salvation" always a religious word?
No. Although "salvation" is common in religious contexts to mean being saved from sin, it also has an everyday meaning: the act of saving someone or something from danger, loss, or harm. For example, a rescue plan can be described as "the salvation of a struggling company."
What is the difference between "salvation" and "deliverance"?
Both mean being rescued or set free, and they often overlap. "Deliverance" tends to stress the moment of being freed from a specific threat or captivity, while "salvation" can describe both a single rescue and an ongoing saved state, especially in a spiritual sense.
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