shelf life

noun

: the period of time during which a material may be stored and remain suitable for use

broadly : the period of time during which something lasts or remains popular

Examples of shelf life in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps the big, beautiful bombing had only a short shelf life. —Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 5 July 2025

Note that unwaxed cucumbers from farmers' markets or home gardens may have a shorter shelf life compared to waxed varieties at the grocery store. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 June 2025

Most beauty products will have a small symbol on the back of their container indicating the product's shelf life in months. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 20 June 2025

Blackberries spoil quickly, so freezing them is a great way to extend their shelf life. —Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 17 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shelf life

• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• loosestrife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife
• afterlife

Kids Definition

shelf life

noun

: the period of time something may be stored and still be good enough to use

Medical Definition

shelf life

noun

ˈshelf-ˌ 

: the period of time during which a material (as a food or drug) may be stored and remain suitable for use