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

Snyder, according to multiple people close to the World Cup bid, seemed unwilling to spend millions of dollars on improvements — some of them permanent, some of them temporary and FIFA-mandated — to a stadium that was likely near the end of its shelf life. —Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

The spray has a five-year shelf life and the tape 10 years, so it can be stored at the ready and used ahead of a red flag warning or fire weather warning. —New Atlas, 27 Nov. 2025

How To Safely Handle Turkey The best way to maximize the shelf life of turkey is to handle it properly from start to finish. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025

Its revival – and with it, discussion of Zelensky’s shelf life – re-emerges at a time of new weakness for this wartime leader. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025

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