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

Long lead times were accepted because demand was forecastable. — Rich Garrity, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Target also used Proxima for perishables, which added a layer of complexity because the company would have to consider variables such as lead times and expiration dates. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 17 Aug. 2026

That long lead time can result in vaccines that aren’t well targeted to the circulating viruses. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026

Even a small improvement in lead time can have an outsized economic return. — Karryl Kim Sagun Trajano, Fortune, 2 Aug. 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