sell-by date

American  

[sel-bahy] / ˈsɛlˌbaɪ /

noun

1. the last date on which perishable food should be sold, usually established with some allowance for home storage under refrigeration.

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idioms

1. past one's / its sell-by date, past one's or its prime; past the period of greatest vigor, success, etc..

   an aging actress, well past her sell-by date.

sell-by date British  

noun

1. a date printed on the packaging of perishable goods, indicating the date after which the goods should not be offered for sale

2. informal beyond one's prime

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Etymology

Origin of sell-by date

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Weight-loss drugs have only added to investor concerns that traditional food businesses are approaching their sell-by date.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

But what was once known as the Lieder recital — the German title for songs in a genre once dominated by Schubert, Schumann, Hugo Wolf and Richard Strauss — has approached its sell-by date.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2026

But in this context, as you said at argument, there’s nothing that demands a sell-by date, right?

From Slate • Oct. 18, 2025

The recall announcement, issued by the wholesaler on Sept. 20, specifically concerns 3,314.7 pounds of tuna poke with Costco Item Number 17193 and a sell-by date of Sept. 22.

From Salon • Sep. 24, 2025

The sell-by date of some chicken was altered and labels did not have the correct information on them to enable the source of the meat to be properly traced.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025