English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
General

pipeline

What does pipeline mean?

In hiring and sales contexts, the sequence of prospects, candidates, or deals at various stages moving toward a hire or close. A 'strong pipeline' means plenty of prospects in progress.

"Recruiting says the pipeline is full, but half those candidates already ghosted."

Origin

Business jargon borrowing the imagery of a physical pipeline carrying items through stages.

Frequently asked questions

What does pipeline mean in business?
The sequence of prospects, candidates, or deals moving through stages toward a hire or a closed sale.
What is a strong pipeline?
A pipeline with plenty of prospects or candidates actively in progress, suggesting healthy future hires or sales.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
Slang definitions: FreeDict original editorial.