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Hijacked: meaning, definitions and examples

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hijacked

 

[ haɪˈdʒæktɪd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

illegal takeover

Hijacked refers to the act of unlawfully seizing control of a vehicle, such as an aircraft, ship, or other means of transport. It can involve taking hostages or making demands for ransom. This term is commonly associated with aviation and has been a significant concern for law enforcement and security agencies worldwide. The act of hijacking typically involves a perpetrator or group of perpetrators using threats or violence to gain control over individuals and vehicles.

Synonyms

captured, commandeered, seized

Examples of usage

  • The plane was hijacked mid-flight.
  • Several ships have been hijacked in the region.
  • The bus was hijacked by armed robbers.

Translations

Translations of the word "hijacked" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sequestrado

🇮🇳 हाइजैक किया गया

🇩🇪 hijacked

🇮🇩 dibajak

🇺🇦 викрадений

🇵🇱 porwany

🇯🇵 ハイジャックされた

🇫🇷 détourné

🇪🇸 secuestrado

🇹🇷 kaçırılmış

🇰🇷 납치된

🇸🇦 مختطف

🇨🇿 unesený

🇸🇰 unesený

🇨🇳 劫持

🇸🇮 zasežen

🇮🇸 hijacked

🇰🇿 тұтқындалған

🇬🇪 ჰაიჯეკირებული

🇦🇿 hijack olunmuş

🇲🇽 secuestrado

Etymology

The word 'hijack' has its origins in American slang from the early 20th century, around the 1920s. It is believed to have derived from the phrase 'high jack', which was used to describe the act of stealing a horse or other property. Over the years, the term evolved to specifically describe the unlawful seizure of vehicles, particularly aircraft. The first recorded use of the term in the context of aircraft was in the late 1940s when incidents of airplane hijacking began to rise, leading to profound security changes in aviation. The term has since become commonplace in discussions of security, crime, and terrorism, especially in connection with air travel and public transportation.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,328, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.