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
The shelf life of strawberries depends on the season.
—
Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2025
In games of cat and mouse, new traps have a limited shelf life.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Among Levenson’s tasks is figuring out how the taste of each bar changes during its shelf life, and even from bite to bite.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
The Padres have Bogaerts and Machado still presumably in their prime but with an unknown shelf life and an expensive denouement on the horizon.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shelf life
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Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2025
In games of cat and mouse, new traps have a limited shelf life.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Among Levenson’s tasks is figuring out how the taste of each bar changes during its shelf life, and even from bite to bite.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
The Padres have Bogaerts and Machado still presumably in their prime but with an unknown shelf life and an expensive denouement on the horizon.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shelf life
Cite this Entry
“Shelf life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelf%20life. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
shelf life
noun
: the period of time during which a material (as a food or drug) may be stored and remain suitable for use
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