Statute of limitations
Etymology
“Statute” is from Latin “statuere” (to set up or establish), from “stare” (to stand); “limitation” is from “limes” (a boundary or limit). Together the phrase names a written law that sets a firm boundary in time — the point past which a claim can no longer stand.
noun phrase · /STA-choot uhv lim-uh-TAY-shunz/
A law setting the maximum time after an event within which legal action can be started.
What it names
The legal clock that quietly closes the door on old claims — reach for it to explain why even a real wrong can become unenforceable if you wait too long.
Example
The fraud happened a decade ago, so the statute of limitations had run and no charges could be filed.
Related idea
Distinct from jurisdiction, which governs whether a court has power over a matter at all: the statute of limitations governs whether you brought it in time, and a claim can die on either.