Flotsam And Jetsam

B2 8+
Pronunciation Definitions Examples Grammatical Forms Origin and Evolution

Pronunciation: /ˈflɑtsəm ənd ˈdʒɛtsəm/

Definitions of flotsam and jetsam

noun useless or discarded objects; odds and ends

Example Sentences

A1 The beach was covered in flotsam and jetsam after the storm.

A2 The children collected flotsam and jetsam from the shore to make a sculpture.

B1 The museum displayed a collection of flotsam and jetsam found in the ocean.

B2 The artist used flotsam and jetsam to create a unique piece of artwork.

C1 The environmental organization worked to clean up the flotsam and jetsam polluting the ocean.

C2 The novel explored the themes of identity and belonging through the metaphor of flotsam and jetsam in a post-apocalyptic world.

Examples of flotsam and jetsam in a Sentence

formal The beach was littered with flotsam and jetsam after the storm.

informal There was all sorts of flotsam and jetsam washed up on the shore.

slang I can't believe the amount of flotsam and jetsam we found on our beach clean-up.

figurative In the sea of information online, it's hard to sift through the flotsam and jetsam to find the truth.

Grammatical Forms of flotsam and jetsam

past tense

floated and jetted

plural

flotsams and jetsams

comparative

more flotsam and jetsam

superlative

most flotsam and jetsam

present tense

floats and jets

future tense

will float and jet

perfect tense

has floated and jetted

continuous tense

is floating and jetting

singular

flotsam and jetsam

positive degree

flotsam and jetsam

infinitive

to float and jet

gerund

floating and jetting

participle

floating and jetting

Origin and Evolution of flotsam and jetsam

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The phrase 'flotsam and jetsam' originates from the Old French words 'floter' and 'jeter', meaning 'to float' and 'to throw'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in maritime law to refer to the wreckage of a ship and its cargo that has been thrown overboard, the term has evolved to also describe random or unimportant items or people.