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

This shift would aim to shorten lead times and reduce tariff uncertainty while maintaining the company’s certification standards for recycled and low-impact materials, Talbot said. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025

Build a live, searchable directory of Lagos fashion capacity—minimum order quantities, lead times, specializations—and connect it to wholesale marketplaces and diaspora retail partners. —Essence, 6 Nov. 2025

With the success of season 1 and the long lead time for casting, competition will likely continue to be intense. —Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025

The first products under his stewardship will come to market in two to three years, due to the beauty sector’s lengthy lead times. —Vogue Business Team, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2025

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