war crime
B2Formal, Legal, Academic, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A serious violation of the laws or customs of war, as defined by international law, such as deliberately targeting civilians, torture, or using prohibited weapons.
An act, typically committed by military or political leadership during an armed conflict, that is deemed morally and legally reprehensible by the international community. Its prosecution is often seen as a key aspect of international justice and accountability.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A hyponym (specific type) of crime. The term inherently implies an international legal dimension and is not used for ordinary criminal acts committed during peacetime. Often used in plural ('war crimes').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Minor differences may occur in accompanying collocational verbs (e.g., 'bring charges for' vs. 'charge with').
Connotations
Equally grave connotations in both varieties. The term carries the full weight of international legal judgment and moral condemnation.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in serious news, legal, and academic contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] committed a war crime by [gerund/noun phrase].The [tribunal/court] charged [accused] with war crimes.Investigators are looking into possible war crimes in [location].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used except in risk assessment (e.g., 'Companies operating in conflict zones face reputational risks if associated with alleged war crimes.')
Academic
Common in International Law, Political Science, History, and Ethics (e.g., 'The concept of universal jurisdiction allows states to prosecute war crimes regardless of where they occurred.')
Everyday
Used in news discussions and serious conversations about current conflicts (e.g., 'The news report showed footage which may constitute a war crime.')
Technical
Precisely defined in legal documents like the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, with specific elements for each crime.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The commander was war-crimed for ordering the attack on the village.
- They sought to war-crime the former regime officials.
American English
- The prosecutor moved to war-crime the militia leaders.
- The act was clearly intended to war-crime the civilian population.
adverb
British English
- The troops acted war-criminally by targeting the hospital.
American English
- The regime behaved war-criminally throughout the conflict.
adjective
British English
- The war-crime allegations were broadcast globally.
- A war-crime tribunal was established.
American English
- He faced war-crime charges in The Hague.
- The report detailed war-crime evidence.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- War crimes are very bad things done in a war.
- The general was arrested for war crimes after the conflict ended.
- The international court is investigating allegations that war crimes were committed during the siege.
- Establishing a command responsibility is crucial for prosecuting senior officials for war crimes, as it links leadership to atrocities committed by subordinates.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
WAR CRIME: Where WAR's CRIMinal law has been broken.
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR IS A CONTEST WITH RULES. A 'war crime' is a FOUL or CHEATING in that contest.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "военное преступление" without understanding its specific international legal definition, as the Russian term can be used more broadly or propagandistically.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'war crime' to describe any violent act in a war zone (must meet specific legal criteria).
- Spelling as one word ('warcrime').
- Confusing with 'crime of war' which is not a standard term.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these acts is most likely to be legally classified as a war crime?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A war crime is specifically linked to an armed conflict and violates the laws of war (e.g., Geneva Conventions). A crime against humanity can occur during war or peacetime and involves widespread or systematic attacks against civilians (e.g., murder, enslavement, deportation).
Yes. Under principles of international law like those upheld by the International Criminal Court (ICC), individuals, including heads of state and military commanders, can be held personally criminally responsible for war crimes.
It is primarily a defined legal term under international law (e.g., the Rome Statute). Its use in journalism and everyday language derives from this legal meaning, implying acts that meet specific, prosecutable criteria.
Ultimately, competent international tribunals (like the ICC) or national courts (under universal jurisdiction) make the legal determination after investigation and trial, based on evidence and applicable international law.