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

This will shorten the statute of limitations for IRS assessments of tax. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.d., Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

No one at the hearing opposed the NDA bill, though three business lobbyists criticized a statute of limitations bill, wary of the costs. —David W. Chen, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

Yet the law remains in effect, with a statute of limitations that lasts up to six years. —Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2025

The statute of limitations had closed just nine months earlier. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 27 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