Phrase guide

sell-by date

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The latest date by which a perishable product should be sold to the public.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An indication that something, or someone, is old and out of date.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, idiomatic

Examples

  • September 9, 2017 - Schlock Mercenary Manifold: This is not a team, Petey. This is just another mass grave. Ewin: Eeew. What's the sell-by date on that manifold? I think it's gone bad.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a date stamped on perishable produce indicating the date by which it should be sold

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: date

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: data de caducitat — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Danish: sidste salgsdato — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • German: Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • German: MHD — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • German: Verfallsdatum — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Irish: spriocdháta díola — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Italian: data di scadenza — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Japanese: (包装食品などの)販売有効期限の日付 — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Korean: 유통 기한 — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Norwegian Bokmål: siste salgsdato — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Spanish: fecha de caducidad — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Spanish: fecha de vencimiento — latest date by which a product can be sold
  • Swedish: bäst före-datum — latest date by which a product can be sold