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

Their content together, appearances, red carpet moments, casual clips of them out in Los Angeles, has kept fans invested in their story past the finale, extending the shelf life of a couple that could otherwise have faded once the season ended. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Proper storage can extend the shelf life months past the expiration date. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026

Both are harvested at peak ripeness, unlike many grocery store tomatoes that are picked green to extend their shelf life. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

And their shelf life often does not end when a child ages out of the program. — Tori Mason, CBS News, 26 Aug. 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