carjack

American

[kahr-jak] / ˈkɑrˌdʒæk /

verb (used without object)

to forcibly steal a vehicle from a motorist.

verb (used with object)

to forcibly steal (a vehicle), or to victimize (a driver) in this way.

carjack British

/ ˈkɑːˌdʒæk /

verb

(tr) to attack (a driver in a car) in order to rob the driver or to steal the car for another crime

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

carjacker noun

Etymology

Origin of carjack

1990-95; blend of car ¹ + hijack

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Pentagon says crime across the district decreased 40% compared with the same period last year, including carjackings, robberies and violent crime.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns go down, when homicides or robberies go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer,” Bowser said in late August.

From The Wall Street Journal

A woman has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in the murders of three tourists during a carjacking in Mexico last year.

From BBC

In one case this year, a carjacking suspect managed to flee with help from an accomplice.

From Los Angeles Times

Dozens of people protested Thursday outside Rockstar Games' offices in Edinburgh, accusing the multi-billion dollar studio behind the smash "Grand Theft Auto" open-world carjacking franchise of "blatant union busting" by firing 31 people.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023