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

Such destruction is considered to be a violation of international law, and a potential war crime. —Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026

Ratko Mladic was sentenced to life in prison in 2017 for orchestrating genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Balkan nation’s 1992-95 war. —Molly Quell, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026

They generally have been reserved for those who posed credible threats to public safety or national security, committed war crimes or crimes against humanity, or committed felonies before or during the naturalization process without disclosing them. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

Earlier in April, a group of 74 artists signed an open letter sent to Biennale director Pietrangelo Buttafuoco imploring him to exclude countries currently accused of war crimes; Israel, Russia, and the United States. —News Desk, Artforum, 23 Apr. 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.