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Added 8 October 2026

savage

/ˈsævɪd͡ʒ/ adjective

In Latin: silvestris, barbarus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about savage at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Wild; not cultivated or tamed.
a savage wilderness
Barbaric; not civilized.
savage manners
Primitive; lacking complexity or sophistication.

noun

A member of a traditional, nonindustrialised society or indigenous tribe or other group, typically living closely with nature outside of the infrastructure of urbanized civilization.
An aggressively defiant person.
Their kids are little savages! One of them bit me the other day.
Someone who speaks in an audacious, hilarious, and often sarcastic manner.

verb

To attack or assault someone or something ferociously or without restraint.
No matter how anyone might savage me, I should stay strong.
To criticise vehemently.
His latest film was savaged by most reviewers.
To attack with the teeth.

Origin

From Middle English savage, from Old French sauvage, salvage (“wild, untamed”), from Late Latin salvāticus, alteration of Latin silvāticus (“wild”, literally “of the woods”), from silva (“forest; grove”). Doublet of sylvatic.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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