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

For consumers in California, the complaint requested the statute of limitations to be defined as the last four years. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 12 May 2025

Federal antitrust law claims have a four-year statute of limitations. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Not all foreign information returns are subject to this extended statute of limitations rule. —Matthew Roberts, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Additionally, given Natalia’s legal age, the statute of limitations prevents litigation of any offenses before 2014. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 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