sell-by date
noun
: a date printed on food packages showing the last day on which the food can be sold
—sometimes used figuratively
a theory that has passed its sell-by date [=an outdated theory]
Examples of sell-by date in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Body wash typically has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years, but the key is to read the sell-by date on the container.
—
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2024
When To Buy Fresh Turkeys Loranger says that Fresh Butterball turkeys sold in November will be good until Thanksgiving if kept refrigerated, but be sure to check the sell-by date on packages.
—Amy Sherman, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2023
But other information like sell-by dates or animal welfare labels are less regulated — and some are effectively meaningless.
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN, 7 Oct. 2023
And on the offensive side, Bill O’Brien seems like a good choice as a coordinator but the pickups of running back Ezekiel Elliott and JuJu Smith-Schuster are a few years past their sell-by date.
—Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2023
According to the news release, the company was alerted by its supplier that products with those specific sell-by dates may contain rocks.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 25 July 2023
The phrase meant that single women over 25 were like seasonal baked goods at the store on December 26: beyond their sell-by date.
—Nina Li Coomes, The Atlantic, 28 June 2023
The sell-by dates affected by the recall for these cookies are:
Sell by Oct. 19, 2023, through Oct. 21, 2023.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2023
Customers who purchased Almond Windmill Cookies or Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies with the above sell-by dates can throw out the products or return them to their local Trader Joe’s for a full refund.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 24 July 2023
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2024
When To Buy Fresh Turkeys Loranger says that Fresh Butterball turkeys sold in November will be good until Thanksgiving if kept refrigerated, but be sure to check the sell-by date on packages.
—Amy Sherman, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2023
But other information like sell-by dates or animal welfare labels are less regulated — and some are effectively meaningless.
—Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN, 7 Oct. 2023
And on the offensive side, Bill O’Brien seems like a good choice as a coordinator but the pickups of running back Ezekiel Elliott and JuJu Smith-Schuster are a few years past their sell-by date.
—Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2023
According to the news release, the company was alerted by its supplier that products with those specific sell-by dates may contain rocks.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 25 July 2023
The phrase meant that single women over 25 were like seasonal baked goods at the store on December 26: beyond their sell-by date.
—Nina Li Coomes, The Atlantic, 28 June 2023
The sell-by dates affected by the recall for these cookies are:
Sell by Oct. 19, 2023, through Oct. 21, 2023.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr., The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2023
Customers who purchased Almond Windmill Cookies or Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies with the above sell-by dates can throw out the products or return them to their local Trader Joe’s for a full refund.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 24 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sell-by date.' 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
1971, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sell-by date
Cite this Entry
“Sell-by date.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sell-by%20date. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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