headhunting

[ hed-huhn-ting ]

noun

1. (among certain primitive peoples) the practice of hunting hunting down and decapitating victims and preserving their heads heads as trophies.
2. the act or practice of actively searching for new employees, especially for professionals or executives:

   Every June the electronics manufacturers go headhunting among the newly graduated engineers.

3. the act or practice of firing without cause, especially someone disliked:

   Their periodic headhunting was a contributing factor in the company's failures.

4. the act or practice of trying to destroy the power, position, or influence of one's competitors or foes:

   Headhunting is ferocious in advertising.

Word History and Origins

Origin of headhunting¹

First recorded in 1850–55; head + hunting

Example Sentences

You said a headhunting firm put that bogus degree on your résumé and you never noticed it.

From The Daily Beast

Bigwigs headhunting superhumans to run splashy enterprises eyeball you.

From The Daily Beast