statute of limitations

American  

noun

Law.

1. a statute defining the period within which legal action may be taken.

---

statute of limitations British  

noun

1. a legislative enactment prescribing the period of time within which proceedings must be instituted to enforce a right or bring an action at law See also laches

---

statute of limitations Cultural  

1. Any law that places a time restriction during which a lawsuit must be brought to court or a crime must be prosecuted.

---

Etymology

Origin of statute of limitations

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

statute of limitations

There is a statute of limitations on financial elder abuse, but in this case, pursuing legal action seems like a fruitless task.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

The deluge of claims came after the state changed the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse, giving victims a new window to sue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

In a unanimous verdict, the case was thrown out because Musk filed his lawsuit after a statute of limitations to bring such claims had expired.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

The jury found Musk brought his lawsuit after the statute of limitations expired, clearing the way for an OpenAI IPO.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

She started organizing information into carefully labeled folders: one about cells, another about cancer, another full of definitions of legal terms like statute of limitations and patient confidentiality.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot