Nuremberg defense

== English == === Etymology === An allusion to a defense used by former Nazi officials prosecuted during the Nuremberg trials after World War II. The trials were held in Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈnjʊəɹəmbəːɡ dɪˈfɛns/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈn(j)ʊɹəmˌbɚɡ dɪˈfɛns/ Hyphenation: Nu‧rem‧berg de‧fense === Noun === Nuremberg defense (plural Nuremberg defenses) (American spelling) (ethics, international law, idiomatic) An explanation offered as an excuse for behaving in a criminal or wrongful manner, claiming that one acted in this way because one was ordered by others (particularly superiors) to do so. Synonyms: lawful orders, superior orders (US law, by extension) An explanation offered as a defense to criminal or wrongful behavior, claiming that one is justified in not obeying a governmental order or a domestic law because the order or law is itself unlawful. ==== Alternative forms ==== Nuremberg defence (Britain, Commonwealth) ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === superior orders on Wikipedia.Wikipedia