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 service members are allowed to disobey unlawful orders—and they could even be prosecuted for carrying out patently unlawful orders, such as war crimes. —Chantelle Lee, Time, 25 Nov. 2025

This past September, Tshisekedi retaliated by having Kabila tried in absentia and sentenced to death for war crimes and treason. —Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

There is no accountability for any war crimes. —NBC news, 23 Nov. 2025

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023 on accusations of war crimes, specifically the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia during the conflict in Ukraine. —Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

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.