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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
Blueberries left in room temperature have a shorter shelf life of only a couple of days.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2024
But here’s the thing: Unlike the cyclical nature of clothes, beauty purchases often have a shelf life.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 13 Sep. 2024
Breadfruit has a short shelf life and is rarely exported out of tropical countries.
—Richard Schiffman, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2024
The market was ready for a higher-quality, bite-sized cookie with an emphasis on taste over shelf life.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shelf life
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 5 Oct. 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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