: 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
The January 2025 completion date for Oklahoma Road Middle School’s HVAC represents a long lead time for the generator and chiller replacements, for what was expected to be a longer project.
—
Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2024
But physical expansions and enhancements have long lead times: Infrastructure often takes years to plan, build, and operationalize.
—Brian Tossan, Fortune, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for lead time 
Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2024
But physical expansions and enhancements have long lead times: Infrastructure often takes years to plan, build, and operationalize.
—Brian Tossan, Fortune, 9 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.
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 1 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share