Van der Waals nonspecific interaction definition
The definition of the van der Waals force that I like (and apparently so too do the folks who have contributed to the Wikipedia article on the topic) is much more *specific about what is and is not a van der Waals force. This definition originates in the International Union of Pure &amp; Applied Chemistry Compendium of Chemical Terminology

The van der Waals force is the sum of the attractive or repulsive forces between molecules (or between parts of the same molecule) other than those due to covalent bonds, the hydrogen bonds, or the electrostatic interaction of ions with one another or with neutral molecules or charged molecules.

Thus, a van der Waals force is a catch-all term to include all other very weak interactions between atoms and molecules:


Dipole-dipole interactions between permanent dipoles 
Dipole-induced dipole interactions 
Induced dipole - induced dipole interactions (London dispersion)
$\pi-\pi$ stacking
Halogen bonding
Repulsive forces derived from atoms trying to be inside another atom's van der Waals radius (Steric strain and torsional strain)