shelf-stable
|shelf-sta-ble|
🇺🇸
/ˈʃɛlfˌsteɪbəl/
🇬🇧
/ˈʃelfˌsteɪb(ə)l/
keeps without refrigeration
Etymology
'shelf-stable' originates from modern English as a compound of 'shelf' and 'stable'.
'shelf' derives from Old English 'scelf' meaning 'ledge' or 'shelf', while 'stable' comes from Latin 'stabilis' (via Old French/Latin influence) meaning 'firm' or 'steady'. The compound developed in 20th-century English with the rise of packaged foods.
Individually, 'shelf' meant a ledge and 'stable' meant 'steady/firm'; combined as 'shelf-stable' the phrase came to mean 'steady/firm enough to remain safe and unspoiled on a shelf', i.e., able to be kept at room temperature.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
able to be stored at room temperature for an extended period without spoiling or requiring refrigeration.
The canned soup is shelf-stable and does not require refrigeration.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/05 17:25