war crime

noun

: a crime (such as genocide or maltreatment of prisoners) committed during or in connection with war

—usually used in plural

war criminal noun

Examples of war crime in a Sentence

He was found guilty of torture and other war crimes.

Recent Examples on the Web

In May 2024, Cairo joined South Africa in its spurious legal case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of war crimes—without any evidence. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025

One of the remaining detainees, Ali Bahlul, is serving a life sentence for conspiracy to commit war crimes. —Lisa Hajjar, The Conversation, 24 Jan. 2025

Image Still, many questions remained about why the Italian authorities did not act swiftly to address any bureaucratic mistake and instead rushed a man who was wanted for war crimes out of Italy. —Emma Bubola, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025

Khan’s move came amid an existential crisis at the court, opened in The Hague in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression. —Reuters, NBC News, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

war crime

noun

: an act committed usually during an international war for which individual criminal liability will be imposed by a domestic or international tribunal

specifically : a violation of the laws or customs of war as embodied or recognized by international treaty, court decisions, or established practice

—usually used in pl.

Note: Following World War II, the Charter of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg first codified war crimes including crimes against humanity. Also encompassed in the legal concept of war crimes is the crime of planning or waging a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties.