capital-intensive

adjective

cap·​i·​tal-in·​ten·​sive ˈka-pə-tᵊl- in-ˈten(t)-siv How to pronounce capital-intensive (audio)
ˈkap-tᵊl-
: having a high capital cost per unit of output
especially : requiring greater expenditure in the form of capital than of labor

Examples of capital-intensive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a world where long-term predictability is eroding, capital-intensive investments are becoming increasingly risky. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025 Similarly, most capital-intensive textile machinery has not been made in the United States for nearly two decades. Kimberly Glas, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 Their energy supplies and huge sovereign wealth funds help underwrite America’s competitive edge over China in energy and capital-intensive industries of the future—AI, cloud computing, and the mining and processing of rare-earth minerals. Firas Maksad, Time, 25 Sep. 2025 The platform model transforms what were once capital-intensive AI capabilities into pay-as-you-go services. Sajal Singh, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for capital-intensive

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of capital-intensive was in 1959

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Cite this Entry

“Capital-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capital-intensive. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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