lead time

noun

The amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion, e.g. the time required to manufacture or procure a product; the time required before something can be provided or delivered.

“It's an excellent device, but it has a 10-week lead time, so be sure to order it in advance.”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounlead time (countable and uncountable, plural lead times)

plural lead times

  1. countableidiomaticuncountableThe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion, e.g. the time required to manufacture or procure a product; the time required before something can be provided or delivered.

    It's an excellent device, but it has a 10-week lead time, so be sure to order it in advance.

    1 more example

    With long lead times in timetable planning WMT [West Midlands Trains] has stated that the earliest it can recast the timetable will be May 2020.

    2019 October, “Chase Line service to be split next May”, in Modern Railways, page 17

Translations

Dutch doorlooptijd, levertijd
  • doorlooptijdthe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
  • levertijdthe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
  • productietijdthe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
Finnish läpimenoaika
  • läpimenoaikathe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
French délai de mise en œuvre, délai de livraison
  • délai de mise en œuvrethe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
  • délai de livraisonthe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
Polish czas realizacji
  • czas realizacjithe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
Spanish tiempo / plazo de entrega / ejecución
  • tiempo / plazo de entrega / ejecuciónthe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
Swedish ledtid
  • ledtidthe amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion
Cite this entry
APA

lead time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lead%20time

MLA

“lead time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lead%20time. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lead time,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lead%20time.

Source: lead time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.