carjacking

noun

car·​jack·​ing ˈkär-ˌja-kiŋ 

: 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

ˈkär-ˌjak 

transitive verb

carjacked; carjacking; carjacks

Several weeks after the shooting, a woman my age was carjacked there.

—Susan Straight

carjacker

ˈkär-ˌja-kər 

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

Roughly 35 minutes before the carjacking was reported, the suspect was involved in a disturbance at the station, Brinser said. —Jason Green, The Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2024

In July, ahead of the Republican National Convention, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman warned of the crime and several high-profile crimes have involved carjackings. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2024

The incidents – which included assault with a deadly weapon, carjacking and robbery – happened between November 2023 and September of this year, San Jose police Officer Tanya Hernandez said in a news release. —Jason Green, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024

Separately, carjackings are down 16 percent compared with the same period last year, according to county data. —Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 30 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

car + (hi)jack + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

carjacking

noun

car·​jack·​ing ˈkär-ˌja-kiŋ 

: theft by force or intimidation of an auto that has a driver or passenger present