: 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a theory that has passed its sell-by date [=an outdated theory]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
Chapman says that the sell-by dates listed on egg containers are very similar to sell-by dates placed on milk products—the purpose essentially is to give consumers the best quality item.
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Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
She’s being dangled out there as the carrot, but of course that has a sell-by date.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
My sell-by date has definitely expired.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
But what was once known as the Lieder recital — the German title for songs in a genre once dominated by Schubert, Schumann, Hugo Wolf and Richard Strauss — has approached its sell-by date.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
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Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
She’s being dangled out there as the carrot, but of course that has a sell-by date.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
My sell-by date has definitely expired.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
But what was once known as the Lieder recital — the German title for songs in a genre once dominated by Schubert, Schumann, Hugo Wolf and Richard Strauss — has approached its sell-by date.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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 20 Feb. 2026.
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