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

In fact, none of these attacks constitute war crimes, because this is not a real war. — Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

Moscow accused Ukraine of targeting civilians, which would constitute a war crime, and unleashed a barrage of aerial strikes on its neighbor. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2026

On June 1, Adolf Eichmann, following his conviction the previous December on fifteen counts, including crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes against the Jewish people, was executed by hanging in Ramla Prison in Israel. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Sudan’s then-President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir was indicted for war crimes and genocide by the International Criminal Court over that campaign. — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 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.