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.
Given the long lead time that animation takes from concept to air, Hayden’s exit has been in the works for a while. Variety, NBC News, 25 Nov. 2024 Similarly, a cosmetics company sought to use AI to reduce lead times and improve order accuracy. Ketan Anand, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024 Yes, but: Don't look to new nuclear projects with longer lead times to meet the near-term increase in energy demand, cautions Tyler Norris of Duke University. Andrew Freedman, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024 The long lead time isn’t due to bottlenecks at Nvidia, but instead something far more mundane. Grace Shao, Fortune Asia, 10 Oct. 2024 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 27 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!