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

Smith, a veteran public corruption and war crimes prosecutor, is also leading the probe into key aspects of the Jan. 6, 2021, effort to overturn the results of a presidential election. —Russell Lewis, NPR, 7 May 2024

The Israeli government has grown increasingly concerned in recent days that the International Criminal Court may issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu, for possible war crimes in Gaza. —Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 3 May 2024

It has been reported that the International Criminal Court is preparing arrest warrants for possible war crimes against Israeli leadership including President Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. —Rafael Perez, Orange County Register, 3 May 2024

Working with their team at the Clooney Foundation for Justice, Anya Neistat, a brilliant war crimes investigator, joins forces with Solomiia Stasiv, a young Ukrainian woman just entering the field. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 17 Apr. 2024

In Ukraine, Putin feels totally free to up the scale of his war crimes against civilians, as the GOP turns against Kyiv while the world and the White House focus on Gaza. —Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2024

Thousands of civilians have been killed, although death toll estimates are highly uncertain, and both sides have been accused of committing war crimes. —Reuters, NBC News, 12 Apr. 2024

If Western weapons are found to have been used in the perpetration of war crimes (or, worse, genocide) in Gaza, what culpability could their suppliers face? —Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024

In the months that followed, knowledge of Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine spread rapidly across the world. —Mariia Hlyten, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 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.