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

According to the podcast, the statute of limitations for arson had expired in Canada. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026

Still, filing a protective claim before the statute of limitations expires preserves your rights if the Kwong decision is ultimately upheld. —Brian Sloan, CNBC, 15 May 2026

House Bill 837 cut the statute of limitations for general negligence claims from four years to two, tightening the window to take action. —Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

However, with the statute of limitations passed, Dutch police reportedly have their hands tied; the Dutch Restitutions Committee does not deal with private art collections. —Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 11 May 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