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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
Additives are ingredients added by manufacturers to stimulate appetite and extend shelf life.
—Parija Kavilanz and Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Generally, the shelf life of CBD gummies is around 12-14 months from the date of manufacture, with some brands lasting up to 2 years.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
For certain seafood and produce, particularly various greens and herbs, proper storage can significantly extend shelf life.
—Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2024
That’s because more expensive soy sauces typically lack the preservative, sodium benzoate, that more common grocery-store soy sauces use to extend shelf life.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 26 Mar. 2024
That meant forgoing technology that could speed production and extend the shelf life of their products even as bigger competitors from the East and West coasts arrived on the scene.
—Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024
Dollar Tree and Dollar General offer limited selections, focusing on popular brands and products with a shorter shelf life than many items in a traditional supermarket.
—Jaclyn Peiser, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Cabbage has the advantage of being especially cheap and bountiful, with a long shelf life — a single head seems to last forever in the refrigerator.
—Kim Severson, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024
But using sunscreen—or any skincare product in general—past its shelf life can come with some major consequences.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shelf life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1927, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near shelf life
Cite this Entry
“Shelf life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelf%20life. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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
: 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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