statute of limitations

noun phrase

: a statute assigning a certain time after which rights cannot be enforced by legal action or offenses cannot be punished

Examples of statute of limitations in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Last week, Judge Katherine Polk Failla dismissed Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard’s lawsuit against Combs because the statute of limitations expired. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 16 June 2026

Jurors unanimously concluded Musk’s claims were filed too late and fell outside the applicable statute of limitations. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026

The charges of false imprisonment, false arrest and negligence were dismissed for falling outside of a statute of limitations on such claims. —Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026

In the end, Collins granted a motion from Murphy’s attorneys to seek dismissal of the case, ruling the statute of limitations had expired in claims that went as far back as 2013. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for statute of limitations

• abbreviations
• abominations
• accelerations
• accommodations
• accumulations
• adjudications
• administrations
• adulterations
• affiliations
• agglomerations
• alienations
• amalgamations

Legal Definition

statute of limitations

1

a

: a statute establishing a period of time from the accrual of a cause of action (as upon the occurrence or discovery of an injury) within which a right of action must be exercised compare laches, statute of repose

b

: a criminal statute establishing the period of time within which an offense can be punished after its commission

2

: a period of time established by a statute of limitations for commencing an action or prosecution

3

: an affirmative defense that the statute of limitations has expired