Synonyms

highwayman

American

[hahy-wey-muhn] / ˈhaɪˌweɪ mən /

noun

plural

highwaymen

(formerly) a holdup man, especially one on horseback, who robbed travelers along a public road.

highwayman British

/ ˈhaɪˌweɪmən /

noun

(formerly) a robber, usually on horseback, who held up travellers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of highwayman

First recorded in 1640–50; highway + -man

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The video itself was cryptic, making reference to infamous 17th Century highwayman Dick Turpin.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2025

London highwayman Capt. Macheath sits in prison writing an opera based on his life.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2020

In the late 1950s, Zorro grew especially popular because of a Disney television series featuring handsome Guy Williams as the daredevil highwayman.

From Washington Post • Jul. 10, 2019

On this date in 1879, the stages between Maricopa and Phoenix were held up so frequently that acting Gov. John W. Gasper offered a bounty of $500 for every highwayman caught in the act.

From Washington Times • Aug. 9, 2017

He says, There was no call at all to shift you up here away from Patricia when you didn’t even know what happened to the highwayman and Bess.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023