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

But the statute of limitations on my cross-country drug runs had finally expired. — Michael Douglas, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Check out our interactive map, an NBC News exclusive, to find out if there is a statute of limitations on rape in your state. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026

By the time the case was brought last year, the statute of limitations had expired on a potential voter-registration charge and on the earlier votes, leaving the 2020 ballot as the basis for the prosecution. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Guevara has never been charged with a crime in connection with allegedly torturing supsects, and the statute of limitations has long since expired on any such charges, Felker said. — Chris Tye, CBS News, 5 Oct. 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