: available as a stock item : not specially designed or custom-made
off-the-shelf software

Examples of off-the-shelf in a Sentence

she chose to have her computer designed to her specifications rather than buying an off-the-shelf machine
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Balancing Buy and Build to Enhance Productivity At Autodesk, Kota has established a balanced approach to AI, blending both off-the-shelf and tailored solutions. Peter High, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 State of play: Early adopters are already using off-the-shelf generative AI as a personal health care assistant. Megan Morrone, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024 While the company offers off-the-shelf selections, it’s known for bespoke personalization – having one’s initials or special date sewn onto the boot’s ear pulls or having a handwritten note transcribed into the liner of the boot. Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 When designing your martech stack, the decision to rely on comprehensive off-the-shelf tools or build your own custom configuration is neither simple nor obvious. Mike Burton, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for off-the-shelf 

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-the-shelf was in 1950

Dictionary Entries Near off-the-shelf

Cite this Entry

“Off-the-shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-the-shelf. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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