international law

American  

noun

1. the body of rules that nations generally recognize as binding in their conduct toward one another.

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international law British  

noun

1. the body of rules generally recognized by civilized nations as governing their conduct towards each other and towards each other's subjects

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international law Cultural  

1. A body of rules and principles that govern the relations among nations. (See Geneva Conventions and International Court of Justice.)

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Etymology

Origin of international law

First recorded in 1830–40

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

international law

Janina Dill, a professor of international law at the University of Oxford, said that according to the Geneva Conventions a party to armed conflict has a responsibility to "investigate and potentially prosecute its own".

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Pillay, a former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, received the prize Friday for her decades of work advancing international law and accountability for atrocities.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

The court rejected the US sanctions as an attack on international law and warned in a statement that "history will judge this moment."

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Pillay has left a profound mark on international law over a multidecade legal career, the committee said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

There were many in the international law enforcement and intelligence communities who were convinced Le Fantôme was not a real person.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

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