n.1 the act of saving or being saved; preservation from loss, calamity, etc.
2 deliverance from sin and its consequences and admission to heaven, brought about by Christ.
3 a religious conversion.
4 a person or thing that saves (was the salvation of).
Phrases and idioms:
Salvation Army a worldwide evangelical organization on quasi-military lines for the revival of Christianity and helping the poor.
Derivatives:
salvationism n. salvationist n. (both nouns esp. with ref. to the Salvation Army).
Etymology: ME f. OF sauvacion, salvacion, f. eccl.L salvatio -onis f. salvare SAVE(1), transl. Gk soteria