labor-intensive
adjective
la·bor-in·ten·sive
ˈlā-bər-in-ˌten(t)-siv 
: 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
Recently, in response to trends in moviegoing, Hollywood has become more dependent on tapping into characters or stories that audiences already know, giving bio-pics, particularly ones that require radical, labor-intensive transformations, a kind of prestigious sheen.
—
Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023
Instead, about 99 percent of the world’s vanilla comes from synthetic sources such as vanillin, a cheaper and less labor-intensive alternative to harvesting vanilla beans or castoreum.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Because of the labor-intensive nature of the dish, paella is only served on weekdays with 24-hour advance notice for carryout.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Nov. 2023
Research from Loughborough University found that as temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), worker productivity, particularly for those employed in labor-intensive or outdoor professions, can decline by 25%.
—Martine Ferland, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023
Coil speakers require labor-intensive manufacturing and testing, partly because of inconsistencies from unit to unit.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Nov. 2023
Cannabis is among the nation’s most labor-intensive crops, on par with strawberries.
—Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
While in Encinitas, the monks will construct a labor-intensive sand mandala at the Seaside Center of Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Drive.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
At Iceland, resurfacing was labor-intensive, involving manual tools like planers, hoses and squeegees.
—Nick Yetto, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023
See More
Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023
Instead, about 99 percent of the world’s vanilla comes from synthetic sources such as vanillin, a cheaper and less labor-intensive alternative to harvesting vanilla beans or castoreum.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Because of the labor-intensive nature of the dish, paella is only served on weekdays with 24-hour advance notice for carryout.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Nov. 2023
Research from Loughborough University found that as temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), worker productivity, particularly for those employed in labor-intensive or outdoor professions, can decline by 25%.
—Martine Ferland, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023
Coil speakers require labor-intensive manufacturing and testing, partly because of inconsistencies from unit to unit.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Nov. 2023
Cannabis is among the nation’s most labor-intensive crops, on par with strawberries.
—Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023
While in Encinitas, the monks will construct a labor-intensive sand mandala at the Seaside Center of Spiritual Living, 1613 Lake Drive.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
At Iceland, resurfacing was labor-intensive, involving manual tools like planers, hoses and squeegees.
—Nick Yetto, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'labor-intensive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1928, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near labor-intensive
Cite this Entry
“Labor-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labor-intensive. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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