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

Among detergent formulas, liquid laundry detergent and detergent pods have the shortest shelf life. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026

Unlike typical grocery kits that require prep or frozen meals that sacrifice flavor for shelf life, Tempo delivers nutritious recipes made by real chefs that taste like home-cooking. —Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026

Canned beans generally have a longer shelf life—typically lasting several years when unopened. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026

That kind of creative discipline is rare in the streaming era, where popular shows can easily be stretched beyond their natural shelf life. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 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