Synonyms

crime against humanity

American

noun

a crime or series of crimes, such as genocide, directed against a large group because of religion, ethnicity, country of origin, or other reason unconnected with any individual's responsibility for having committed a criminal act.

Etymology

Origin of crime against humanity

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Member states are set to vote on a resolution - led by Ghana - to recognise the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity".

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday designated the transatlantic African slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity," despite opposition by the United States and some European countries.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

In 1993, the International Criminal Court reaffirmed apartheid as a crime against humanity and established the possibility of individuals being held responsible.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2024

“This is a crime against humanity and we should all gather and stop this terror and bring everybody back home,” Keren Schem said.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 17, 2023

It’s called a crime against humanity because all humans co-own the responsibility never to forget it.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023