lead time

noun

ˈlēd- 

: 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

Plank said the company held a supplier summit last week and is working with its manufacturing partners to shorten lead times, become more efficient in its use of materials and improve its response time. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026

Manufacturing lead times for key weapons are up 330% since 2010, in part due to issues with components further down the supply chain. — Ryan Ordway, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Location and Guest Count Matter, Too Certain venues and destinations require additional lead time due to high demand and logistics. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 3 Nov. 2026

Intel told some Chinese customers earlier this year that lead times for certain server CPUs had stretched to six months, Quartz reported. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lead time

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime