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

Sudan An advisory against travel to Sudan warns that travelers face the risk of armed conflict and crime, including kidnapping, armed robbery, home invasions, and carjackings. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025

Minutes later, a carjacking was reported around North 11th and Rowland Avenue. —Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2025

According to the latest Baltimore Police Department statistics, carjackings are down 14% across the city this year compared to the same time frame in 2024. —Alexa Ashwell, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2025

The audacious broad-daylight carjacking and grisly murder in Central Florida last spring perplexed law enforcement officials for months. —Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

car + (hi)jack + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1991, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carjacking

• attacking
• backpacking
• backtracking
• hijacking
• kayaking
• meatpacking
• ransacking
• repacking
• unpacking
• backing
• blacking
• clacking

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