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

These grains haven’t been engineered for shelf life or yield, which is part of the appeal for cooks looking for more flavor, more texture and more variety on the plate. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026

Deli meats are cured with salt to preserve them and extend their shelf life. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 14 May 2026

Freezing soup can extend its shelf life up to 2 to 3 months. —Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026

This turns out to be quite useful in some pharmaceutical applications, including allowing drugs to dissolve more consistently, retain a longer shelf life or reduce cold storage requirements, and reducing side effects. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 13 May 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