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

Both Israel and Hamas have frequently accused one another of war crimes throughout the conflict and leaders on both sides have been subject to arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

This treaty allows the ICC to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression. —Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

In the video, the activist approaches a man sitting on a towel with a woman and another man, accusing him of war crimes. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025

This famine is man-made, made possible by support from the US government, among many other nations who remain unwilling to halt their funding and denial of Israel’s war crimes…. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 6 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.