lead time

American  

[leed] / lid /

Or lead-time

noun

• lead times
  plural

1. the period of time between the initial phase of a process and the emergence of results, as between the planning and completed manufacture of a product.

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lead time British  

/ liːd /

noun

1. manufacturing the time between the design of a product and its production

2. commerce the time from the placing of an order to the delivery of the goods

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lead times
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lead time

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lead time

Though it noted that expanding production capacities requires "significant lead time."

From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026

Second, to put it bald-eagly, that extra lead time gave Sam an opportunity to make money.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026

Experts often describe the Fed as an oil tanker that needs immense lead time before any change of direction.

From MarketWatch ● May 30, 2026

But demand for AI computing and the long lead time for building systems and data centers is also driving changes in business practices that could ultimately tame the memory sector’s volatility.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

I estimate the lead time on the hoverplanes and let my arrow fly.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• arrangement
• construction
• education
• establishment
• formation
• groundwork
• measure
• plan
• precaution
• preparedness
• qualification
• rehearsal
• study
• training