skyjack

verb

sky·​jack ˈskī-ˌjak How to pronounce skyjack (audio)
skyjacked; skyjacking; skyjacks

transitive verb

: to commandeer (an airplane in flight) by the threat of violence
skyjacker noun
skyjacking noun

Examples of skyjack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The only unsolved skyjacking in U.S. history still baffles the FBI and amateur sleuths. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 14 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'skyjack.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

sky entry 1 + -jack (as in hijack)

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of skyjack was in 1961

Dictionary Entries Near skyjack

Cite this Entry

“Skyjack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skyjack. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on skyjack

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!