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

That case was dismissed in 2006, when a judge ruled that the statute of limitations had expired. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2025

If the court rules that the indictment or appointment is invalid, prosecutors may be barred from refiling because the statute of limitations has expired. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

The Grassley exchange is now beyond the statute of limitations, while Comey was charged just days before the clock would have run out on the 2020 testimony. —Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2025

Prosecutors argue this reaffirmation, made for the second time within the statute of limitations, is an actionable false statement. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 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