law of war
noun phrase
: the code that governs or one of the rules that govern the rights and duties of belligerents in international war
Examples of law of war in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While a wide range of regulatory options have been proposed for dealing with the challenge of lethal autonomous weapons, ranging from a preemptive, legally binding international treaty to reinforcing compliance with existing laws of war, there is as yet no international consensus on a way forward.
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Ronald C. Arkin, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2019
First, Biden should change course by calling out and expressing willingness to punish human rights atrocities and violations of laws of war.
—Eric Min, Foreign Affairs, 24 July 2024
Unlike the early laws of war, the Geneva Conventions prohibited not just senseless violence but also some forms of violence that advanced war aims.
—Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
These issues are still in the beginning stages of what could be the future laws of war and the guardrails of high-tech civilization.
—Avi Kumar, Fox News, 26 May 2024
If not, might machines be able to comply with laws of war under rare, limited conditions approximating desert or sea battles where civilians are not present?
—Charli Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2013
The norm of protecting hospitals and healthcare workers, one of the first created for the framework of modern laws of war, has been eroding in recent years, said Saman Zia-Zarifi, the executive director of advocacy group Physicians for Human Rights.
—Dov Lieber, WSJ, 13 Nov. 2023
Officials have declined to say whether Israel has violated laws of war in any of its actions, saying making such determinations would be speculation.
—Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2023
Sign up Every law of war, every superhero ethos, every shred of common sense and basic decency tells us that the good guys are the ones who don’t kill children.
—Chris Cannon, The New Republic, 18 Oct. 2023
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Ronald C. Arkin, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Oct. 2019
First, Biden should change course by calling out and expressing willingness to punish human rights atrocities and violations of laws of war.
—Eric Min, Foreign Affairs, 24 July 2024
Unlike the early laws of war, the Geneva Conventions prohibited not just senseless violence but also some forms of violence that advanced war aims.
—Oona A. Hathaway, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
These issues are still in the beginning stages of what could be the future laws of war and the guardrails of high-tech civilization.
—Avi Kumar, Fox News, 26 May 2024
If not, might machines be able to comply with laws of war under rare, limited conditions approximating desert or sea battles where civilians are not present?
—Charli Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2013
The norm of protecting hospitals and healthcare workers, one of the first created for the framework of modern laws of war, has been eroding in recent years, said Saman Zia-Zarifi, the executive director of advocacy group Physicians for Human Rights.
—Dov Lieber, WSJ, 13 Nov. 2023
Officials have declined to say whether Israel has violated laws of war in any of its actions, saying making such determinations would be speculation.
—Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2023
Sign up Every law of war, every superhero ethos, every shred of common sense and basic decency tells us that the good guys are the ones who don’t kill children.
—Chris Cannon, The New Republic, 18 Oct. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Law of war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/law%20of%20war. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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