sell-by date

noun

ˈsel-ˌbī- 

: 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a theory that has passed its sell-by date [=an outdated theory]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

Milk was stored too warm in a faulty walk-in cooler and was also past its sell-by date. — Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 23 July 2026

While shelf-stable items can last well beyond their sell-by date, their quality may start to decline after their use-by date. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 13 July 2026

Researchers plan to continue their work to create more accurate sell-by dates while reducing the pounds of meat unnecessarily discarded each year. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 June 2026

But that joke is past its sell-by date. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sell-by date

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate