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.
Direct-to-consumer telehealth was once a highly capital-intensive space. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Asia’s defense cycle will enter one of its most capital-intensive phases this year, driven by naval shipbuilding and maintenance across Northeast Asia and Australia. — Chris Oberoi, Fortune, 24 June 2026 Despite these tensions, SPACs are proving a valuable financing bridge for capital-intensive companies. — Drew Bernstein, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Their goal is to secure the billions of dollars required for their capital-intensive projects to build artificial general intelligence, a broadly capable computer system that is smarter than humans at all cognitive work. — Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 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

Rhymes for capital-intensive

See All Rhymes for capital-intensive

Browse Nearby Words

capital grant
capital-intensive
capital investment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Capital-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capital-intensive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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