Jump To:

• just-in-time
  just-in-time

  adjective

  noting or pertaining to a method of inventory control that keeps inventories low by scheduling needed goods and equipment to arrive a short time before a production run begins. JIT
• just in time
  just in time

  see in the nick of time.

just-in-time

American  

adjective

1. Business. noting or pertaining to a method of inventory control that keeps inventories low by scheduling needed goods and equipment to arrive a short time before a production run begins. JIT

---

just-in-time British  

adjective

1.  JIT.  denoting or relating to an industrial method in which waste of resources is eliminated or reduced by producing production-line components, etc, as they are required, rather than holding large stocks

---

just in time Idioms  

1. see in the nick of time.

---

Etymology

Origin of just-in-time

First recorded in 1610–20 as an adverb, and in 1975–80 as an adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

just-in-time just in time

He predicted the industry would shift from "just-in-time" to "just-in-case" logistics that mean "more storage, more flexible shipping, more diversified crude and LNG sourcing, and more planning around war-risk insurance".

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

But if this goes on for months and months, they have just-in-time manufacturing so at any given moment almost all of their parts and supplies are on a ship or a boat or a truck.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

That would hit consumers and businesses which tend to rely on so-called "just-in-time" supply chains for goods, he added.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2024

“A just-in-time mindset that has persisted for almost three decades is giving way to a just-in-case approach, though delivering on these ambitions is challenging,” the report said.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 13, 2024

We were still a couple blocks from the shop, but I wanted to put the brakes on the just-in-time lecture.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

But after late substitutions, the men are able to return to the fray just in time, and Odysseus prevails.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

She gets him within spitting distance of Downing Street just in time for her husband to dump her.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

He appeared to take his seat - alongside Infantino - about 20 minutes before kick-off, just in time to watch Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger perform in the closing ceremony.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

On numerous occasions this year, those timers became optimistic enough to nearly trigger a contrarian sell signal — only to pull back just in time.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

She turned just in time to see the tattered sleeve of the thief emerge from her bag, dirty hand clutching her coin purse.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan