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

Platforms like Flashfood are helping grocers reduce prices on items as they near the end of their shelf life, which could aid them in limiting losses from food waste. —Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026

Foods in this category are designed for longer shelf life, strong flavor appeal and convenience. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026

Vegetable fats are also more stable, which can help extend shelf life, particularly in hot climates. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Apr. 2026

Once again, the shelf life of what’s filling our data centers is so brief that buying GPUs, say, is more like replenishing supermarket stocks than building factories that endure for decades. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shelf life

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

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