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

In February of 2023, an armed carjacking suspect was shot and wounded by an officer in the area of 105th Avenue and International Boulevard. —Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 8 May 2026

Prior to that arrest, Talley had faced pending charges alleging armed robbery and carjacking and was released by Judge John Lyke on electronic monitoring. —Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026

There have been four carjackings reported in the county this year, according to data from the police department. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 8 May 2026

Talley was accused in an armed carjacking and robbery in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood in April 2025. —Michael Tobin, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026

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