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

The statute of limitations simply does not start to run. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

At the time, there was also a statute of limitations of seven years from the time the crime was committed to file a lawsuit. —Jessica Sager, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025

However, even if the Justice Department were to prosecute Obama administration officials over their statements and actions regarding the 2016 election, the statute of limitations could limit the likelihood of building a case. —Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2025

Attorneys for the strip clubs say the statute of limitations applies unless the charge is a hostile work environment, which was not Nicholson's initial claim. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 3 June 2025

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