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

Ver’s case also serves as a reminder that with criminal tax matters, the U.S. government has certain helpful provisions in the tax law that can extend the statute of limitations. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Price’s office has previously seen cases crumble after failing to file charges within the statute of limitations. —Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024

The original lawsuit was thrown out in May 2023, partly on statute of limitations grounds. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024

But the filings did not address the question of whether the statute of limitations — five years for most federal offenses — would make that impossible. —Alan Feuer, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

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