off-the-shelf

[awf-thuh-shelf, of-]

adjective

1. readily available from merchandise in stock.

2. made according to a standardized format; not developed for specialized or individual needs; ready-made.

   off-the-shelf computer programs.

off the shelf

adverb

1. from stock and readily available

   you can have this model off the shelf

adjective

1. of or relating to a product that is readily available

   an off-the-shelf model

2. of or denoting a company that has been registered with the Registrar of Companies for the sole purpose of being sold

Word History and Origins

Origin of off the shelf¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Idioms and Phrases

Ready-made, available from merchandise or in stock, as opposed to a special order. For example, Sometimes you can get a better discount by buying an appliance off the shelf. [First half of 1900s] Also see off the rack; on the shelf.

Example Sentences

This innovation could also make it possible to produce “off-the-shelf” CAR-NK treatments that are available immediately after diagnosis, rather than waiting weeks for custom-engineered cells.

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"Most homegrown brands rely on off-the-shelf soles from the market, but when we started Comet, we realized that these were lacking in quality, durability, and grip," he says.

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Besides potential advantages in speed, modular construction promises greater affordability and an off-the-shelf solution simpler to manage than designing a custom home.

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In 2023, the council announced it would purchase a new "off-the-shelf" housing system to deal with ongoing tech problems following the hack.

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In the end, they were able to use an off-the-shelf, pretrained image diffusion model to create smooth, realistic-looking 3D shapes without the need for costly retraining.

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