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

The second proposes a hybrid mechanism, one that would address the full spectrum of international crimes stemming from the Russian invasion, from war crimes to crimes against humanity. —Gyunduz Mamedov, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025

Russian forces have committed war crimes against Ukrainian citizens, according to UN experts. —Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025

For a president who came into office claiming that human rights would be at the crux of his foreign policy, Biden's inability to hold Azerbaijan responsible for its war crimes and atrocities will be a stain on his legacy. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025

The phone call put an end to Washington’s three-year refusal to deal with Mr. Putin – the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for war crime

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime

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.