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

Statute Of Limitations Issues For U.S. limited partners in foreign funds, the statute of limitations for SECA tax assessments is generally three years from the due date or actual filing date of the income tax return, whichever is later. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

The murder of Charles Mattson, a capital crime with no statute of limitations, remains an open case. —Caroline Fraser june 10, Literary Hub, 10 June 2025

The statute of limitations for defamation actions in New York is one year from the date of first publication. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 June 2025

Nine days after Peruvian authorities closed the case because the statute of limitations had expired, Prevost was publicly named to take over the Vatican’s office for bishops, leaving the diocese. —Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 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