manhunt

American

[man-huhnt] / ˈmænˌhʌnt /

noun

an intensive search for a criminal, suspect, escaped convict, etc., as by law enforcement agencies.
an intensive search for any person.

manhunt British

/ ˈmænˌhʌnt /

noun

an organized search, usually by police, for a wanted man or fugitive

"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

Other Word Forms

man hunter noun
manhunter noun

Etymology

Origin of manhunt

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; man + hunt

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.

Mayze fled abroad afterwards, triggering a manhunt by South Wales Police, with bank payments made in Dublin, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece before he was eventually arrested in Romania in July 2025.

From BBC

“The manhunt of the main individual that can give you all the answers be prepared to go international,” the letter reads, according to Levin.

From Los Angeles Times

He disappeared from the city for nine days amid a highly publicized manhunt.

From The Wall Street Journal

Avon and Somerset Police launched a major manhunt after the high-value raid on 25 September.

From BBC

"The suspects fled the scene and no arrests have been made," police said, adding that a manhunt had been launched and investigations were ongoing.

From Barron's

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