labor-intensive

adjective

la·​bor-in·​ten·​sive ˈlā-bər-in-ˌten(t)-siv How to pronounce labor-intensive (audio)
: having high labor costs per unit of output
especially : requiring greater expenditure on labor than in capital

Examples of labor-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.
The fish are less labor-intensive and more hands-off than the chain dredging SRP used to employ. Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 14 Feb. 2026 It is concentrated instead in labor-intensive care and service-based roles. Allie Canal, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026 The art of filigree inlay, recognized as an intangible cultural heritage in 2008, is arguably one of the most labor-intensive yet infinitely playful techniques in the Eight Great Traditional Chinese Metalworking Crafts repertoire, allowing for the full exploration of gold’s malleable nature. Denni Hu, Footwear News, 12 Feb. 2026 Traditional repair methods are expensive, labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often disruptive. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for labor-intensive

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of labor-intensive was in 1928

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Labor-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labor-intensive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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