international law

noun

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

international law

noun

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

international law

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of international law¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

And they said ordering hundreds of thousands to move south could amount to forcible transfer under international law.

From BBC

Experts in international law are hard pressed to find any legal justification for the administration’s action.

From Salon

In international law, armed conflict exists when two or more organized armed groups engage in intense fighting lasting at least a day.

From Salon

The secretary of State sidestepped a question about whether the action, which critics denounced as illegal under international law, signaled a return to “gunboat diplomacy” in a region where U.S. interventions have historically stoked resentment.

From Los Angeles Times

Hamas denounced what it called the "operations of systematic destruction" by Israeli forces in Gaza City, saying they constituted "an unprecedented violation" of international law.

From BBC