lead time
Americannoun
noun
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manufacturing the time between the design of a product and its production
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commerce the time from the placing of an order to the delivery of the goods
Etymology
Origin of lead time
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He says he’s wary about his Somali clients getting a fair hearing, given the volume of cases that have been rescheduled and the abbreviated lead time for hearings.
From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026
“Other equipment,” another component of business investment, has a similar lead time to transportation equipment.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026
“The cooling of prices should give the BOJ sufficient lead time before deciding on another rate increase,” said Takuya Hoshino, an economist at the research firm.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026
Saraiya said Koerner has helped identify roadblocks to progress — such as the typical lead time in lining up utility services — and the county is working to streamline the entire rebuilding process for everyone.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2025
I estimate the lead time on the hoverplanes and let my arrow fly.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
