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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
Finding the shelf life, called stability testing, often takes a long time for test manufacturers, with the FDA opting to give them a shelf life of four to six months instead of waiting.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
In an effort to make better use of their drug supplies, federal agencies that stockpile drugs — like the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs — asked the FDA to extend the official shelf life of several drugs in the 1980s.
—Keren Landman, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
Zoom in: The Food and Drug Administration and Baxter are identifying alternative IV, dialysis and nutrition products and the agency is also speeding up reviews of manufacturers' requests to extend the shelf life of products, Becerra wrote in the letter.
—Adriel Bettelheim, Axios, 10 Oct. 2024
All are supposed to have a shelf life of at least two months, according to the federal Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response or ASPR.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 10 Oct. 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 21 Nov. 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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