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

Driven by intense organizing from the Hind Rajab Foundation and the Global Legal Action Network, Belgium recently detained and interrogated two IDF soldiers accused of war crimes, the first such case in Europe. —Jack Sheehan september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025

Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children, which Moscow calls a humanitarian effort to move them from zones of conflict, was labeled as a war crime by the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants for Putin and another top official. —Laura Kelly, The Hill, 28 Aug. 2025

Weapons munitions expert and war crimes investigator Chris Cobb Smith, who has analyzed the video, said the projectiles clearly visible are missiles. —Molly Hunter, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025

Intentionally attacking rescue workers, journalists and other civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime. —Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 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.