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 worst single attack was on Evin—about 80 people, including prisoners and employees, were killed in what some human-rights organizations have called a war crime. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025

Israel has accused Hamas of using past hostage handovers for propaganda, exchanging them in front of crowds and banners accusing Israel of war crimes. —Nbc News, NBC news, 12 Oct. 2025

Peace must be pursued through diplomacy, not war crimes, and our government must act to end these atrocities and hold those responsible to account. —Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Oct. 2025

An accomplished drummer and guitarist, Becker has dedicated his adult life to issues of international human rights and social justice, documenting war crimes in Lebanon, genocide in Rwanda, and the torture of the indigenous people of India. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 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.