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

He was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon in a multi-agency operation, authorities added. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025

At least eight other people also participated in the carjacking assault, according to Coristine. —David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025

The carjacking ignited a high-speed police chase across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, including on Interstate 75. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025

The unidentified victim was shot multiple times during what police believe was an armed robbery and carjacking, investigators said in the release. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 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