Standard Lemma guide

sav

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Clipping of savage (“unpleasant or unfair”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A saveloy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, New-Zealand, UK, informal

Examples

  • 1982, Ronald Hugh Morrieson, NZ, Predicament, The Dunmore Press, page 68, “Well, I don′t know what you′ll think. I′m only saying this to show what you′ve all done for me, but last Christmas dinner I had cold savs.” There was silence and then Mervyn added with a break in his voice, “Saveloys. [...] ”

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A ruthless or badass person; a savage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang

Qualifier: African-American Vernacular

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Clipping of savage.

Clipping of saveloy.