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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
In the fifth case, the lower court had ruled against the plaintiffs and dismissed their case, citing the 20-year statute of limitations.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2024
Probable defenses include contesting the statute of limitations argument offered by the plaintiffs.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 2 July 2024
In his 40-page filing, Spertus also raised concerns about whether the case — stemming from material accessed in 2018 — had already exceeded the three-year statute of limitations for the charges.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024
Mitchell convened a grand jury in January that returned an indictment within the three-year statute of limitations for this charge, Varghese said.
—Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for statute of limitations
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'statute of limitations.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1641, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of statute of limitations was
in 1641
Dictionary Entries Near statute of limitations
Cite this Entry
“Statute of limitations.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statute%20of%20limitations. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on statute of limitations
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about statute of limitations
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