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.
These vineyards are labor-intensive and difficult to farm. Emily Price, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 However, until then, early inhabitants had to extract water from wells, a labor-intensive process that limited their ability to change the water. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 18 Jan. 2026 There’s the cheapish and labor-intensive cooking at home and stretching leftovers, or the takeout/eating out experience that’s increasingly expensive. Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 14 Jan. 2026 China also exports more knowledge-intensive goods, such as electronics and automobiles, and fewer labor-intensive goods, like furniture and toys. Joe Ngai, Fortune, 11 Jan. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Labor-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labor-intensive. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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