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
Most bear spray has a shelf life of around 3-4 years.
—
Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2024
The shelf life of women in the film industry, objects destined for profit and consumption, remains notoriously diminished in comparison to their male counterparts.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 4 Sep. 2024
Flour with the bran and the germ in them, such as whole-wheat flour, tend to have a shorter shelf life due to their high-fat content.
—Perri Ormont Blumberg, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2024
Lately, she’s discovered that even legends have a shelf life.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shelf life 
Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2024
The shelf life of women in the film industry, objects destined for profit and consumption, remains notoriously diminished in comparison to their male counterparts.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 4 Sep. 2024
Flour with the bran and the germ in them, such as whole-wheat flour, tend to have a shorter shelf life due to their high-fat content.
—Perri Ormont Blumberg, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2024
Lately, she’s discovered that even legends have a shelf life.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shelf life
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shelf life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Shelf life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelf%20life. Accessed 17 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical 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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