Definition

1. Noun:
   • Robbery of a traveler or vehicle in transit: The act of stealing from a person or vehicle while it is on a journey.
   • Seizing control of a vehicle by the use of force: The unlawful taking of control of a vehicle, such as an airplane, car, or ship, through force or threat of force.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The highjacking of the cargo truck was reported to the police immediately.
  • Airport security was increased to prevent the highjacking of aircraft.

Advanced Usage

• "to commit a highjacking": to carry out the act of seizing a vehicle or robbing travelers.
  • The terrorists planned to commit a highjacking to gain international attention.
• "a highjacking attempt": an effort to seize control of a vehicle that may or may not be successful.
  • The crew thwarted a highjacking attempt mid-flight.

Variants and Related Words

• Hijacking (n): The more common modern spelling for the same act.
  • The news reported a hijacking on the highway.
• Hijacker (n): A person who commits a highjacking.
  • The hijackers demanded a ransom.
• Carjacking (n): Specifically the seizure of a car by force.
  • Carjacking is a serious crime in the city.

Synonyms

• Seizure: The act of taking control by force.
• Commandeering: Taking control of something, especially a vehicle, for one's own use.

Related Phrases

• Skyjacking: A specific term for the hijacking of an aircraft.
  • Skyjacking became a major concern in the 1970s.
• Piracy: Robbery or criminal violence at sea, a related concept.
  • Modern piracy is a form of hijacking ships.

Related Idioms

• "To hold something hostage": To seize and control something to force demands, conceptually related to the goals of a highjacking.
  • The protesters held the building hostage, similar to how hijackers hold a vehicle.

Noun

1. robbery of a traveller or vehicle in transit or seizing control of a vehicle by the use of force