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

Under that ruling, a preparer’s intent to evade tax can be enough to keep the statute of limitations open, even if the taxpayer did not personally commit fraud. — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

The statute of limitations determines how long a creditor has to sue over an unpaid debt, while probate deadlines govern how long creditors have to submit claims against a deceased person's estate. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 June 2026

The Two-Year Clock Is Now the Rule Florida’s statute of limitations for general negligence claims, which covers most car accident cases, was cut in half. — Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026

Last week, Judge Katherine Polk Failla dismissed Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard’s lawsuit against Combs because the statute of limitations expired. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 16 June 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