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

But alas, Netflix‘s documentary about the rise and fall of America’s Next Top Model is a rather grueling and self-serious affair which attempts to turn the reality hit that ran for 24 seasons into a cultural war crime. —James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026

Particularly when that country’s government and military commit war crimes that kill tens of thousands. —Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026

The Ukrainians have all but given up on their earlier insistence that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his generals should face justice for war crimes. —Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026

Ukraine has accused Russian forces of committing countless war crimes since the start of the war, and European institutions have made efforts to hold Russia accountable. —Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1871, 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.