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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
Tip Avoid curing acorn, delicata, or sweet dumpling squash, as this can actually shorten their shelf life.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
Che and Nya could theoretically return at some point, should And Just Like That maintain a longer shelf life.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Most personal information was private, and anything damaging that did make it into the public eye had a temporary shelf life.
—Chad Angle, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
And in 1992, three years after the director’s death, Touchstone Home Video released A Woman Under the Influence on VHS, greatly extending its shelf life.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
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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 15 Jan. 2025.
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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