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law of war

American  

noun

  1. rules or a code of rules governing the rights and duties of belligerents in an international war.


Etymology

Origin of law of war

First recorded in 1945–50

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.

See Examples For:

The Pentagon’s own law of war manual prohibits “hostilities on the basis that there shall be no survivors.”

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 1, 2025

Today, under the law of war, civilians are supposed to have protections, including against citizenship- or identity-based detentions or internment, as well as against forced repatriation.

From Slate Mar. 20, 2025

“In accordance with the law of war, we’ve got to do what’s necessary to protect those civilians.”

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 31, 2023

But he also warned Israelis they should not give into their "rage" after the attack and follow the law of war.

From Reuters Oct. 18, 2023

The Judge-Advocate.—I think the common law of war will reach that case.

From The Judicial Murder of Mary E. Surratt by David Miller DeWitt

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