off the shelf

1 of 2

phrase

Synonyms of off the shelfnext
: available from stock : not made to order
off the shelf equipment

off-the-shelf

2 of 2

adjective

ˈȯf-ṯẖə-ˈshelf How to pronounce off-the-shelf (audio)
: available as a stock item : not specially designed or custom-made
off-the-shelf software

Synonyms of off the shelf

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of off the shelf in a Sentence

Adjective she chose to have her computer designed to her specifications rather than buying an off-the-shelf machine
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Phrase
The woman apparently noticed the surveillance camera, and ripped it off the shelf. — Ali Bauman, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 From lightweight layers that form the base of a capsule wardrobe to tech favorites and the books that are making it off the shelf, these are the travel essentials Vogue editors swear by. — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 19 July 2026
Adjective
Apple Silicon uses custom designs, which means there are no off-the-shelf system-on-chip options; everything has to be designed specifically for Apple. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 In 2012, working from his parents’ garage and camper trailer, 19-year-old Luckey completed the prototype for the Oculus Rift, a low-cost virtual reality headset built from off-the-shelf smartphone components. — Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for off the shelf

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off the shelf was in 1950

Rhymes for off the shelf

See All Rhymes for off the shelf

Browse Nearby Words

off-the-record
off the shelf
off-the-shelf
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Off the shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20the%20shelf. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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