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

No one expects a meme coin to have a particularly long shelf life. —Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026

Lane added that operas and ballets, so far, have a longer shelf life than A24. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026

Whether for noshing in their natural, juicy and delicious form, or for turning into any number of tasty dishes—applesauce, apple pie, apple butter, and so many more—apples are a relatively inexpensive fruit that typically have a decent shelf life and convenience factor that’s hard to beat. —Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

Gold has limited supply and a long shelf life. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 8 Mar. 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