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

Blood also has a shelf life as the red blood cells age over time. — Velvet Wu july 29, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026

Your Cancer Risk May Increase Hot dogs typically include nitrites and nitrates, which are preservatives added to prolong shelf life and prevent bacterial growth. — Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 28 July 2026

With wheat flour, the bran and germ are removed during milling, lending the flour a finer texture and an extended shelf life. — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026

In addition to requiring refrigeration, many drugs have a short shelf life and need to be delivered in precise windows of time. — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 25 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shelf life

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

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