: 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
Fair lead times, predictable payment terms and coordinated communications contribute to measurable, sustained performance that directly influences supplier outcomes.
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Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 19 Nov. 2025
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation says the lead time, the wait between placing an order and the product being delivered, hit roughly 120 weeks – more than two years – in 2024, with large power transformers taking as long as 210 weeks – up to four years.
—Kyri Baker, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lead time
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Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 19 Nov. 2025
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation says the lead time, the wait between placing an order and the product being delivered, hit roughly 120 weeks – more than two years – in 2024, with large power transformers taking as long as 210 weeks – up to four years.
—Kyri Baker, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lead time
Cite this Entry
“Lead time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20time. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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