shelf life

American  

noun

1. the term or period during which a stored commodity remains effective, useful, or suitable for consumption.

   Many medicines have a very short shelf life.

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shelf life British  

noun

1. the length of time a packaged food, chemical, etc, will last without deteriorating

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Etymology

Origin of shelf life

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

"I suspect the cheapest rates have a shelf life of three or four days at the moment."

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Petroleum is also used to make detergents that help toothpaste foam and synthetics that improve shelf life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

In a related editorial, US researchers note that preservatives do offer clear benefits, including longer shelf life and lower food costs, which can be especially important for lower income populations.

From Science Daily • Jan. 27, 2026

Often produced for taste and shelf life, ultraprocessed foods have drawn growing scrutiny from health officials and researchers due to their high amounts of refined ingredients and artificial additives.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

Some had cases of “survival crackers”—bulgur wheat blocks with an estimated shelf life of three thousand years.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin