What does scavenge mean?
Scavenge means to search for and collect things that are available, especially discarded objects, leftover food, or materials that can be reused. A person might scavenge a landfill, a ruined building, a beach, or an abandoned site for anything useful. In a broader sense, the word describes obtaining an opportunity or resource by taking advantage of whatever happens to be available, as when a business scavenges for contracts or a person searches online for bargain travel. The word is used in both British and American English. It can be approving when it suggests resourcefulness and practical reuse, but it can also carry negative connotations of poverty, desperation, or taking advantage of other people’s leftovers. The related noun is much less common than the verb and usually denotes an organized search for useful food, materials, or objects.
To search for and collect discarded, abandoned, or otherwise available material, especially something that can be reused or is needed.
"They scavenged the warehouse for equipment that could still be repaired."
The word is also used figuratively for obtaining opportunities or resources through opportunistic searching.
An act or process of searching for and collecting available or discarded resources, especially food or useful materials.
"The group organized a scavenge for supplies after the storm."
The noun is much less common than the verb and is often used for an organized or military search.
The plural is used when referring to separate acts or searches for useful resources.
"The soldiers made several scavenges for food and fuel."
Scavenge began with the search for scraps of food, then grew into a word for finding anything useful in overlooked places.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scavenge come from?
The word entered Middle English in the sense of gathering leftover food, probably from Old Norse skav, meaning “refuse” or “debris,” a root associated with skafa, “to scrape” or “shave.” Over time, its meaning broadened from collecting food and scraps to searching for anything useful and making opportunistic use of available resources. The related noun scavenger developed from the same medieval vocabulary and refers to a person or animal that searches for discarded food or objects.
Related word forms
How scavenge is actually used
The verb is common in both British and American English. It can sound practical and resourceful when referring to searching for useful materials, but it may imply desperation or opportunism when someone scavenges for food or resources.
Easily confused with scavenge
Scavenging usually means searching for and collecting discarded or available resources, whereas scrounging often means obtaining something from someone without paying or contributing fairly.