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

The cumulative nature of these criteria — being widespread, long term and severe — establishes a high bar for proving a war crime of this nature. —Josiane Yazbeck, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026

Solis and Bridgeman maintain that the administration’s actions were unlawful whether they would be classified as a war crime or not. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026

Alexa Koenig is the director of Berkeley's Investigations Lab, which trains students to research war crimes and human rights violations. —Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026

The United States has accused the RSF of committing genocide in Darfur during the war, and rights groups said that the RSF committed war crimes during the siege and seizure of el-Fasher, as well as in the capture of other cities in Darfur. —Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 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.