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

Two top Syrian officials under the Assad regime have been charged by the Department of Justice with war crimes against Americans and others, according to a U.S. indictment that was unsealed on Monday. —Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024

Amnesty International says there is no time to waste and has warned the U.S. to stop sending weapons to Israel because of the likelihood, Margaret, that these would be used for war crimes or genocide. —CBS News, 8 Dec. 2024

The report comes after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and Ibrahim al-Masri, a senior Hamas official, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024

They were indicted with crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least October 8, 2023, until at least May 20, 2024. —Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 5 Dec. 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.