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

While the statute of limitations for criminal charges has expired, civil lawsuits remain a possibility. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025

Some states have already extended the statute of limitations to 30 years for gender-affirming care. —Elana Redfield, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025

Working with legislators and domestic violence survivors, Wood helped write the 2019 Phoenix Act, a California law that extended the statute of limitations for domestic violence felony crimes from three to five years. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2025

While efforts in some states to pry open the statute of limitations in criminal cases have been unsuccessful, similar campaigns for civil cases involving assault have led to policy change. —Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

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