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

In Massachusetts, there is no statute of limitations for reporting rape allegations for victims 16 and younger; for anyone 17 and older, the statute of limitations is 15 years. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026

Their bill would eliminate the statute of limitations in cases involving conversion therapy. —Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026

According to Texas law, most debts have a four-year statute of limitations. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 23 Mar. 2026

But the investigation ended because the statute of limitations had passed. —Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 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