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

After Kevin Steele defeated Castor in the race for district attorney in Montgomery County in late 2015, criminal charges in the Constand case — the only one still within the statute of limitations — were filed against Cosby. —Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 23 July 2025

Even if the statute of limitations had passed, Bergacs could have brought the allegation to the community corrections board. —Tony Cook, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

Nicholson initially represented herself when filing her appeal but now has attorneys who say the lower courts are divided over whether the statute of limitations can also be waived when someone alleges a pattern of discrimination. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 3 June 2025

However, her case was dismissed by a district court that concluded the applicable statute of limitations clock began ticking in 2014; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit affirmed the decision. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 2 June 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