War crime
An act carried out during wartime that violates accepted international rules of war, such as the Geneva Conventions. Examples include targeting civilians, torturing prisoners, or using prohibited weapons.
War crimes are distinct from other international crimes like genocide or crimes against humanity, though they often overlap. They are specifically violations of the laws of armed conflict.
Word relationships
- atrocity: Broader, refers to any extremely cruel act, not necessarily a legal violation of war.
- crime against humanity: A distinct legal category, often overlapping but referring to widespread or systematic attacks against civilians, not just during wartime.
- lawful combatant act: An action taken in accordance with the laws of armed conflict.
Commonly confused with
- atrocity: A 'war crime' is a specific legal violation; an 'atrocity' is a morally reprehensible act, which may or may not be a war crime.
- genocide: Genocide is a specific type of war crime (and crime against humanity) with the intent to destroy a group; war crime is a broader category.
Collocations
- commit a war crime
- investigate war crimes
- prosecute war crimes
- alleged war crime
Example sentences
- "The bombing of the hospital was investigated as a potential `War crime` by international authorities." The intentional targeting of civilians is a grave violation of international law.
- "The Nuremberg Trials prosecuted individuals for `War crime`s committed during World War II." Historical conflicts often reveal numerous instances of such violations. (Historical Record)
- "The deployment of chemical weapons is universally recognized as a `War crime`." Using certain types of weapons can also constitute a war crime.
Memory hook
A `War crime` is a 'crime' committed during 'war' that breaks international rules. Crime in war
When not to use
Do not use 'war crime' to describe any bad act during a conflict; it refers to specific legal violations of international humanitarian law.
Fun facts
- The first modern international trials for war crimes were held after World War I, though the concept gained significant traction after World War II.
- The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court lists specific acts that constitute war crimes.
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