: 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a theory that has passed its sell-by date [=an outdated theory]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
The 'For Israel' come hell or high water stance may be well past its sell-by date.
—
Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Those include Virginia old fashioned ham, Italian Cappy style ham, extra hot Italian Cappy style ham, bologna, beef salami, steakhouse roasted bacon ham and garlic bologna with an Aug. 10 sell-by date.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
The products have a sell-by date ranging from July 29, 2024 to October 17, 2024 and were distributed to retail deli locations nationwide and exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 29 Aug. 2024
The liverwurst products under recall have sell-by dates that range from July 25 to Aug. 30.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sell-by date 
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Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Those include Virginia old fashioned ham, Italian Cappy style ham, extra hot Italian Cappy style ham, bologna, beef salami, steakhouse roasted bacon ham and garlic bologna with an Aug. 10 sell-by date.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
The products have a sell-by date ranging from July 29, 2024 to October 17, 2024 and were distributed to retail deli locations nationwide and exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama.
—Bruce Gil, Quartz, 29 Aug. 2024
The liverwurst products under recall have sell-by dates that range from July 25 to Aug. 30.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for sell-by date
Dictionary Entries Near 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 19 Nov. 2024.
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