1
: the strategic use of the law and legal institutions rather than military means to weaken or destroy a usually foreign military or political adversary
Most Israeli concern has focused on the possibility that making the Palestinians an observer state could enhance their ability to join the International Criminal Court and pursue Israeli leaders through "lawfare."—Neil MacFarquhar
In his 2001 article on lawfare, [General Charles] Dunlap provided the example of battlefield tactics, deployed by U.S. adversaries including the Taliban, which were designed to "make it appear that the U.S." was waging war in violation of the law of armed conflict. Dunlap suggested that these tactics were designed to achieve two main objectives: (1) to cause U.S. armed forces to self-impose restraints that would render them less effective, and (2) to erode the American public's will to fight by making it appear that the United States was waging war in violation of the law of armed conflict.—Orde F. Kittrie
Clearly, to deny adversaries an effective lawfare strategy, troops must be trained on the law of war and its incorporation into the rules of engagement.—Charles Dunlap Jr.
2
: the strategic use of the law or legal institutions to discredit or defeat a usually domestic political adversary
Common in all the Latin America cases of lawfare is lack of due process and flimsy evidence, unproven accusations of corruption or overreach of office, and unremitting amplification of these accusations on TV and other media …—Piero Gayozzo
An onslaught of lawfare will likely seed distrust in courtrooms on state and local levels as these cases play out with unintended consequences …—Jennifer Graham
Cite this Entry
“Lawfare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lawfare. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
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