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
Richard Lacayo… Congress made a show of getting tough on crime by making armed carjackings a federal crime.—Janet Novack
Janet Novack
carjack
transitive verb
carjacked; carjacking; carjacks
Several weeks after the shooting, a woman my age was carjacked there.
—Susan Straight
Susan Straight
carjacker
noun
plural carjackers
If you're confronted by a carjacker, be cooperative. The big picture: It's your car versus your life.
—Amy Lumet
Amy Lumet
Examples of carjacking in a Sentence
The police are investigating another carjacking.
Recent Examples on the Web
The suspect is being held at Rikers on multiple charges related to the carjacking, with an arrest warrant filed for the Mount Vernon homicide.
—Tony Aiello, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
When Milwaukee police arrested members of a crew thought to be tied to several carjackings in Riverwest and the city's east side neighborhoods, detective Brendan Dolan felt relief.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Police say the suspect, identified as Tramonte Terrell Gibson, 20, opened fire on a group gathered outside, striking multiple people before running into the roadway and attempting several carjackings.
—Skyler Shepard, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
In a social media post, Gary Police requested that anyone with information related to the reported carjacking, the child solicitation investigation, or any other potential incidents involving Jovanovic contact the Detective Bureau at 219-881-1209.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for carjacking
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Tony Aiello, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
When Milwaukee police arrested members of a crew thought to be tied to several carjackings in Riverwest and the city's east side neighborhoods, detective Brendan Dolan felt relief.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Police say the suspect, identified as Tramonte Terrell Gibson, 20, opened fire on a group gathered outside, striking multiple people before running into the roadway and attempting several carjackings.
—Skyler Shepard, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
In a social media post, Gary Police requested that anyone with information related to the reported carjacking, the child solicitation investigation, or any other potential incidents involving Jovanovic contact the Detective Bureau at 219-881-1209.
—Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for carjacking
Cite this Entry
“Carjacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carjacking. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
carjacking
noun
car·jack·ing
ˈkär-ˌja-kiŋ
: theft by force or intimidation of an auto that has a driver or passenger present
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