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 modern-day Robin Hood story followed mask-wearing highwaymen the Clown and the Wolfman.

From BBC

To borrow a word from the highwayman’s infamous greeting, “Nell” delivers.

From Los Angeles Times

He has gone on to establish regular, silly characters - a romantic poet, a highwayman with a hobbyhorse, and a running story that sends up the allure of the archetypal aloof hero.

From BBC

In the 1960s, the highwaymen had plans to drive Interstate 95 straight through D.C.

From Washington Post

Thieves and highwaymen also ply the same roads.

From New York Times

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