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

Beer has the shortest shelf life (weeks to months), followed by wines (months to years), and then spirits (years to indefinitely), says Lanuzza. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 29 May 2026

There's also a need for plasma and for platelets, which only have a five-day shelf life. —Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 28 May 2026

Every successful leader has a formula, but each formula has a shelf life. —Kevin O'Neill, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

New England Patriots Turning over the receiver position The shelf life for Stefon Diggs expired before a jury found the receiver not guilty on charges including felony strangulation stemming from a December incident with his live-in chef. —Mike Sando, New York Times, 27 May 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