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

According to Rolling Stone, the window to file lawsuits for claims that would be expired under the statute of limitations closes on Saturday. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 28 Feb. 2025

The two-year lookback window, which closes Saturday, has allowed plaintiffs to file lawsuits that otherwise were beyond the statute of limitations. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025

Starting a payment plan will create new activity on this debt and may also restart the clock for both the statute of limitations and your credit profile. 5. —Staff, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025

Before his case was dismissed due to the state statute of limitations, the arts campus’s Board of Trustees responded by launching an investigation. —Sara Coello, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 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