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

Vladimir Putin’s war crimes trial The Court, based in the Netherlands, has already issued an arrest warrant for Putin, and for the two Russian generals who have spearheaded the invasion of Ukraine. —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Middle East The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes over the war in Gaza. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024

Any re-entry before Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty is fully restored, war crimes perpetrators are brought to justice, and reparations are addressed will not only tarnish their reputation but also signal corporate complicity in Russia’s ongoing aggression. —Nezir Sinani, Fortune Europe, 21 Nov. 2024

In May, Khan had considered bringing forward an arrest warrant for Netanyahu related to war crime allegations following the Oct. 7 attacks, the AP reported. —Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2024

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.