: available as a stock item : not specially designed or custom-made
off-the-shelf software

Examples of off-the-shelf in a Sentence

she chose to have her computer designed to her specifications rather than buying an off-the-shelf machine
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That demand for constant revision caused a series of time delays and cost overruns, but also led to the engineers designing proprietary parts for the aircraft, rather than relying on off-the-shelf equipment. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2025 Beginning November 10, 2028, all contracts involving Federal Contract Information or Controlled Unclassified Information will require compliance, except for contracts solely for commercially available off-the-shelf items. Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Built with off-the-shelf components, the weapon is designed for affordability and rapid mass production. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025 The strongest off-the-shelf materials Kipping could find were commercially available sheets of carbon nanotubes, which is what the calculations in his paper are based on. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for off-the-shelf

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-the-shelf was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Off-the-shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-the-shelf. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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