: a date printed on food packages showing the last day on which the food can be sold
—sometimes used figuratively
a theory that has passed its sell-by date [=an outdated theory]
Examples of sell-by date in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eggs with sell-by dates to June 19: Through May 6, eggs with those sell-by dates were distributed to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 10 June 2025
Other retailers got eggs with sell-by dates from March 4 through June 4.
—Mcclatchy Staff, Idaho Statesman, 9 June 2025
The recalled eggs were sold in California and Nevada with sell-by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, at grocery stores and retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raley's, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.
—Clare Marie Schneider, NPR, 7 June 2025
The eggs that went to Walmart stores had sell-by dates from March 4 through June 19.
—Mcclatchy Staff, Idaho Statesman, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sell-by date
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Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 10 June 2025
Other retailers got eggs with sell-by dates from March 4 through June 4.
—Mcclatchy Staff, Idaho Statesman, 9 June 2025
The recalled eggs were sold in California and Nevada with sell-by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, at grocery stores and retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raley's, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.
—Clare Marie Schneider, NPR, 7 June 2025
The eggs that went to Walmart stores had sell-by dates from March 4 through June 19.
—Mcclatchy Staff, Idaho Statesman, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sell-by date
Cite this Entry
“Sell-by date.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sell-by%20date. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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