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

The statute of limitations for bringing a civil lawsuit or criminal charges had long since expired. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2025

No criminal action came from the video, as the statute of limitations for assault is one year in California. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025

But Jones failed to file the $5 million lawsuit until four days after the statute of limitations had expired, according to Rosa’s opening brief in Dodd’s appeal to the Supreme Court. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2025

The statute of limitations for prosecuting such an offense is one year. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 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