shelf life

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.

shelf life

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shelf life¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

What’s different about the spread of generational phrases now is how social media can quickly amplify them but also give them a relatively short shelf life.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That Birkin went on to have a solid career in film, music and theater, outlasting the short shelf life of a typical It Girl, is a testament to her talent, ambition and enduring allure.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It usually has a shelf life of about a month.

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The pompadour gag has lost its cultural shelf life.

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"The scanner will enable shoppers to choose the avocado that is right for them and which therefore can help them plan their usage and desired shelf life," says Ms Lawrence.

Read more on BBC