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

That led to a fundraising campaign raising money for charity - but with a shorter shelf life, the Orkney banana glut will require a swifter solution.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

“I think it’s inevitable that many of these funds are going to have a shorter shelf life than products we’ve seen in the past,” said Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Preservatives are commonly added to processed foods and beverages to extend shelf life.

From Science Daily • Jan. 9, 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

It hadn’t occurred to me that I could suddenly blink into nothingness like a crashed computer with not even two years used up on my shelf life.

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson