capital-intensive

adjective

cap·​i·​tal-in·​ten·​sive ˈka-pə-tᵊl- in-ˈten(t)-siv 

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

Artificial intelligence today is largely about bigger foundation models mainly trained on internet data; larger data centers; and ever more capital-intensive computational scale. —François Candelon, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026

In an era where AI is rewriting the rules of business, former leaders from pre-AI landscape defined by complex supply chains, legacy engineering and capital-intensive growth may seem an anachronism. —Kody Boye march 10, Sacbee.com, 10 Mar. 2026

In high-risk and capital-intensive space sectors such as launch and crewed transport, the development costs are enormous. —Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026

The highly technical and capital-intensive requirements, as well energy challenges, have hindered attempts to boost domestic upskilling. —Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for capital-intensive

• antihypertensive
• apprehensive
• coextensive
• comprehensive
• hypertensive
• hypotensive
• inexpensive
• inoffensive
• normotensive
• counteroffensive
• defensive
• expensive