OFF-THE-SHELF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does off-the-shelf mean? 

• OFF-THE-SHELF (adjective)
  The adjective OFF-THE-SHELF has 1 sense:

1. (especially of clothing) made in standard sizes and available from merchandise in stock

  Familiarity information: OFF-THE-SHELF used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OFF-THE-SHELF (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(especially of clothing) made in standard sizes and available from merchandise in stock

Synonyms:

off-the-peg; off-the-rack; off-the-shelf; ready-to-wear

Context example:

ready-to-wear clothes

Similar:

ready-made (made for purchase and immediate use)

 Context examples 

A biologic product that consists of undifferentiated stem cells, obtained from adult bone marrow or other non-embryonic tissue sources, that are expanded in vitro and deposited in master cell banks for off-the-shelf use, with potential hematopoiesis-inducing and immunomodulating activities.

(Allogeneic Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells, NCI Thesaurus)