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

Both of those events took place in 2016, well outside the statute of limitations, but prosecutors are probing whether Brennan committed perjury when testifying under oath about these events before Congress in 2023. —Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026

In California, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury. —William Jones, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026

Because the incidents occurred over three years ago, the statute of limitations expired, per the DA. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026

Per the outlet, the press release stated that the incident happened more than two years ago, placing it outside the statute of limitations. —Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 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