三者均有劫持及绑架的含义。在英国或普通法上，abduct 主要是指诱拐或胁持妇女，即在普通法上指“挟持妇女罪”，主要指以婚姻、卖淫、非法性行为等为目的，用诱骗或武力胁迫, 违反妇女意志而拐走16或18岁以下的或有精神障碍等的少女以及妇女；在美国成文法中，为“挟持罪”，多与受害人的性别无关[1]。kidnap主要是指为索取赎金的绑架或劫持人质的行为， 其为“绑架”，古时也称为manstealing[2]。hijack则是指为达到某种目的而“劫持”飞机等运输工具[3]。同理，与以上三个单词相对应的名词abduction、kidnapping和hijacking也有如此差别。
 
[1] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, A Dictionary of Modem Legal Usage，at p. 4, Oxford University Press(1995 ) •
[2]“To seize and take away a person by force or fraud, often with a demand for ransom. " Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 874, West Group (1999).
[3]“To seize possession or control of (a vehicle) from another person by force or threat of force, esp.，to seize possession or control of an aircraft. * Linda Picard Wood, J. D. , Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 226, Memam-Webster, Incorporated, Springfield,Massachusetts (1996).