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

Russia’s attacks on journalists can amount to war crimes and must be investigated and prosecuted as such. —Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025

Such onerous requirements for something as basic as food could amount to war crimes, Grant said, and could even lead to accusations that organizations like GHF are complicit. —Matt Bradley, NBC news, 11 June 2025

By the ’90s, Scott became dedicated to human rights work, founding the International Monitor Institute, a nonprofit that gathered evidence to assist in the prosecution of war crimes in the Bosnian and Rwandan genocides, among other crimes against humanity. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 8 June 2025

After her family’s experience with the Blacklist, Scott became involved in advocating for human rights and founded the International Monitor Institute, a non-profit that gathered evidence to assist the prosecution of war crimes. —Pat Saperstein, Variety, 8 June 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.