lead time

noun

: the time between the beginning of a process or project and the appearance of its results

Examples of lead time in a Sentence

We will need at least six months lead time before production begins.
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.
With low-code application development platforms, even non-technical users can easily build automation into their processes and workflows, reducing lead times and costs while driving agility. Amit Mathradas, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025 The technology minimizes deadstock, reduces inventory needs, and shortens lead times. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2025 Five key metrics developed by Google's DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) team have become the industry standard for assessing a development team’s performance: deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, time to restore service and reliability. Debo Ray, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 Pricing starts at $690,000 before adding anything from a vast list of custom options, and lead times currently hover at about a year before customers can take delivery. Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for lead time 

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lead time was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near lead time

Cite this Entry

“Lead time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20time. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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