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 Sky News, their attorney said that the plaintiffs didn’t bring legal action about the stories within the statute of limitations period. —Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 21 Jan. 2026

His lawyer argued that prosecutors should not have been allowed to charge Alon on that main count along with his brothers in late 2024 because the five-year statute of limitations had expired — but the judge disagreed. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026

Brauchler declined to certify a U visa application in June because the victim’s claim of domestic violence fell outside the statute of limitations and could not be prosecuted, according to the lawsuit. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026

The companies say it’s barred by the statute of limitations. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 14 Jan. 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