lead time

noun

ˈlēd- How to pronounce lead time (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The federal financing would be used to purchase nuclear components with long lead times, and are not construction loans. — Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026 Management can, in turn, control its supply chain more closely, expand production capacity, and improve lead times without having to navigate a joint-venture board. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 2 July 2026 The expansion is expected to improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce production lead times, and enhance throughput for both commercial and defense aerospace customers. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026 On-site, behind-the-meter generation lets operators scale without waiting on the grid or hitting consumers in the wallet, and rapid-deployment options like fuel cells can keep pace with development otherwise constrained by gas-turbine backlogs and long nuclear lead times. — Vimal Kapur, Fortune, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lead time

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lead time was in 1944

Rhymes for lead time

See All Rhymes for lead time

Browse Nearby Words

lead the world
lead time
lead to
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lead time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lead%20time. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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