carjacking

noun

car·​jack·​ing ˈkär-ˌja-kiŋ How to pronounce carjacking (audio)
: the theft of an automobile from its driver by force or intimidation
In the cities and suburbs, where muggings and carjackings are a daily concern, voters are wondering how many of the nation's 200 million guns are pointed at them.Richard Lacayo
… Congress made a show of getting tough on crime by making armed carjackings a federal crime.Janet Novack
carjack transitive verb
carjacked; carjacking; carjacks
Several weeks after the shooting, a woman my age was carjacked there. Susan Straight
carjacker noun
plural carjackers
If you're confronted by a carjacker, be cooperative. The big picture: It's your car versus your life. Amy Lumet

Examples of carjacking in a Sentence

The police are investigating another carjacking.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Police said that on Wednesday, around 3 a.m. in the 200 block of South Cicero Avenue, officers observed two people standing next to a vehicle involved in a carjacking. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025 In 2024, during the same period, D.C. saw 198 carjackings, 136 of which involved firearms. Rachel Wolf , Bill Mears, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2025 Anyone with information about the Jan. 12 carjacking, or similar incidents, can contact 408-277-4166 or email Detective Hernandez at [email protected]. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 13 May 2025 The Powers twins, 50, spoke with 7News Queensland about how their mother was caught in an armed carjacking in Queensland, Australia, on Monday, April 21. Charna Flam, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for carjacking

Word History

Etymology

car + (hi)jack + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carjacking was in 1991

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Cite this Entry

“Carjacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carjacking. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Legal Definition

carjacking

noun
car·​jack·​ing ˈkär-ˌja-kiŋ How to pronounce carjacking (audio)
: theft by force or intimidation of an auto that has a driver or passenger present

More from Merriam-Webster on carjacking

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