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

Here's how to store yogurt to keep it fresh longer, and how the type of yogurt affects its shelf life. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 May 2025

Look for the total number of colony-forming units (CFUs) listed by the expiration or use-by date to ensure the product delivers viable bacteria throughout its shelf life. —Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025

Skip the Preservatives Preservatives are added to enhance the taste and texture of a food and improve its shelf life. —Lauren O'Connor, Health, 5 May 2025

The shelf life of strawberries depends on the season. —Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 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