: 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
But physical expansions and enhancements have long lead times: Infrastructure often takes years to plan, build, and operationalize.
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Brian Tossan, Fortune, 9 May 2024
Between strained supply chains and the long lead times for a hugely complex and highly regulated product, a jetliner ordered from Airbus today may not arrive until the end of the decade.
—David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for lead time 
Brian Tossan, Fortune, 9 May 2024
Between strained supply chains and the long lead times for a hugely complex and highly regulated product, a jetliner ordered from Airbus today may not arrive until the end of the decade.
—David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 6 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for lead time
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lead time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Lead time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20time. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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