statute of limitations

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablelegallaw

   a law that sets a time limit for starting a legal case after an event has happened.

   Grammar: Usually with 'the'; plural 'statutes of limitations'.

   Patterns

   • the statute of limitations for something
   • the statute of limitations on something
   • within the statute of limitations

   The statute of limitations for this type of fraud is six years.

   Because too much time had passed, the statute of limitations had expired.

   Prosecutors must file charges before the statute of limitations runs out.

2. 2nouncountablelegallaw

   the period of time itself during which a case can still be brought.

   Grammar: Often used with 'within' or 'past': 'within the statute of limitations'.

   Patterns

   • within the statute of limitations
   • past the statute of limitations

   They filed the claim within the statute of limitations.

   By the time she reported it, the case was past the statute of limitations.

Word forms

Common combinations

the statute of limitations expires

The statute of limitations expires at the end of the year.

the statute of limitations runs out

They waited too long and the statute of limitations ran out.

within the statute of limitations

The lawsuit was filed within the statute of limitations.

toll the statute of limitations

Some states toll the statute of limitations while the victim is a child.

Word family

statute noun

a written law passed by a parliament or similar body.

limitation noun

a rule or fact that limits what is possible.

Commonly confused: statute of limitations or statue?

Practice

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