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

Israel has faced accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the ICC over its devastating military assault on Gaza. —Ryan Patrick Jones, USA Today, 9 July 2025

Gudkov previously commanded the 155th Marine Brigade, accused by Ukraine of committing war crimes, including the execution-style murder of Ukrainian prisoners. —Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

The Ukrainian military had previously accused Gudkov and other members of his former 155th brigade of committing war crimes in Ukraine, including the killing of civilians in the towns of Bucha, Irpin and Gostomel in the early months of Russia’s war. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 3 July 2025

Their elite leadership faced war crimes at the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials, and their inhuman savagery was documented and widely published. —Eric Patterson, National Review, 28 June 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.