crime against humanity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Legal, Academic, Political, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “crime against humanity” mean?
A severe, large-scale atrocity directed against a civilian population, typically committed as part of a systematic government or organizational policy, constituting one of the most serious violations of international law.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A severe, large-scale atrocity directed against a civilian population, typically committed as part of a systematic government or organizational policy, constituting one of the most serious violations of international law.
Any act of extreme cruelty or barbarity, especially when directed against a group of people based on their identity, that is considered an affront to the shared values and dignity of all humankind.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling differences follow regional norms (e.g., 'organise' vs. 'organize' in related contexts).
Connotations
Identical strong legal and moral connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Used with equal frequency in formal, legal, and journalistic contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “crime against humanity” in a Sentence
The regime was accused of [committing] crimes against humanity.The tribunal indicted the general [for] crimes against humanity.Mass deportation can constitute a crime against humanity.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crime against humanity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The report found the militia leaders had perpetrated acts that could be characterised as crimes against humanity.
American English
- The prosecutor sought to prove the officials had orchestrated crimes against humanity.
adjective
British English
- The tribunal's ruling set a precedent for crimes-against-humanity cases.
American English
- She is a leading scholar in crimes-against-humanity law.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) or compliance contexts discussing corporate liability in conflict zones.
Academic
Frequent in law, political science, history, and ethics, with precise legal definitions debated.
Everyday
Used primarily in news discussions of wars or oppressive regimes; sometimes used hyperbolically (e.g., 'That traffic jam was a crime against humanity').
Technical
A key term in international criminal law with specific enumerated acts (e.g., murder, enslavement, deportation, torture, persecution).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crime against humanity”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crime against humanity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crime against humanity”
- Using it as a hyperbolic synonym for 'unpleasant' or 'unfair'.
- Confusing it with 'war crime' (which requires an armed conflict) or 'genocide'.
- Incorrect article use: 'a crime against humanity' (singular act/category) vs. 'crimes against humanity' (plural charges/acts).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. War crimes are violations of the laws of armed conflict. Crimes against humanity can be committed in peacetime or wartime and require a widespread or systematic attack on civilians.
Under current international law, only individuals can be prosecuted. However, corporations can be complicit by providing material support to regimes committing such crimes, leading to sanctions or civil liability.
Genocide requires the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Crimes against humanity target any civilian population and include a broader range of acts like persecution or apartheid, without requiring that specific intent.
The term 'humanity' refers to the collective human condition, dignity, and the human family as a whole. The crime is seen as an assault on the very concept of shared human worth, not just on individual victims.
A severe, large-scale atrocity directed against a civilian population, typically committed as part of a systematic government or organizational policy, constituting one of the most serious violations of international law.
Crime against humanity is usually formal, legal, academic, political, journalistic in register.
Crime against humanity: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪm əˌɡenst hjuːˈmænɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkraɪm əˌɡenst hjuːˈmænɪti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'humanity' as all people. A 'crime against humanity' is an attack on the very idea of our shared human family.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMANITY IS A FAMILY / THE WORLD COMMUNITY IS A COURT: Violations are seen as betrayals of a fundamental familial bond, requiring judgment by a global moral court.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a 'crime against humanity' under international law?