international law

noun

: a body of rules that control or affect the rights of nations in their relations with each other

Examples of international law in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Torture is a crime under international law and can be prosecuted outside of the nation where the abuse occurred and regardless of the victims’ nationality. — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Torture is a crime under international law, and it can be prosecuted outside the country where the abuse occurred and regardless of the victims' nationality. — Adam Reiss, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026

From December 2024 to May 2025, the international law enforcement body Interpol conducted Operation Pangea XVII, in which authorities in 90 countries seized more than 50 million doses of illicit pharmaceuticals. — Andrew Yockey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026

This Nobel will inspire an army of lawyers to warp international law to empower genocidaires. — Anne Bayefsky, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for international law

• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada
• esau

Legal Definition

international law

noun

: a body of laws, rules, or legal principles that are based on custom, treaties, or legislation and that control or affect the rights and duties of nations in relation to each other compare internal law