shanghai

verb

shang·hai ˈshaŋ-ˌhī shaŋ-ˈhī

shanghaied; shanghaiing

Synonyms of shanghai

transitive verb

1

a

: to put aboard a ship by force often with the help of liquor or a drug

b

: to put by force or threat of force into or as if into a place of detention

2

: to put by trickery into an undesirable position

shanghaier

shaŋ-ˈhī(-ə)r

ˈshaŋ-ˌhī-

noun

Examples of shanghai in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

They’re shanghaied by Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes), basically evil but also adorable, to Living Island — the witch wants Freddy — where trees walk and objects talk and the mayor is the title character, a friendly dragon. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023 Some historians believe, as The Oregonian/OregonLive has reported, that the tunnels weren’t actually used to shanghai -- that is, abduct men and force them to join a ship’s crew. —oregonlive, 26 Mar. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Shanghai, China; from the former use of this method to secure sailors for voyages to eastern Asia

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of shanghai was in 1859

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

shangan

shanghai

Shanghai

See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Shanghai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shanghai. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

shanghai

verb

shang·hai shaŋ-ˈhī

shanghaied; shanghaiing

1

: to put aboard a ship by force often with the help of liquor or a drug

2

: to put by threat or force into or as if into a place of detention

3

: to put by trickery into an undesirable position

Etymology

from Shanghai, a major seaport in China; so called because this method was formerly sometimes used to get sailors for ships sailing to eastern Asia

Geographical Definition

Shanghai

geographical name

Shang·hai shaŋ-ˈhī

city and port on the Huangpu River near the estuary of the Chang (Yangtze) River in eastern China population 21,126,600

Note: Shanghai is China's most populous city.

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