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.
These platforms enable the government to: • Avoid capital-intensive infrastructure procurement. Sandeep Shilawat, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 Seabed nodules were located at profound depth and pressure; extracting them was therefore a complex and capital-intensive process. Time, 17 June 2025 But lower interest rates also help capital-intensive renewable energy projects — so higher lending to fossil fuels points to more favorable conditions for their clean competitors. Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 17 June 2025 This is crucial for capital-intensive manufacturing businesses that are critical to U.S. economic competitiveness, including aerospace, automotive, electronics and military manufacturing. Jamal Hagler, Boston Herald, 15 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Capital-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capital-intensive. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!