capital expenditure

American  

noun

Accounting, Finance.

1. an addition to the value of fixed assets, as by the purchase of a new building.

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capital expenditure British  

noun

1. expenditure on acquisitions of or improvements to fixed assets

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capital expenditure Cultural  

1. The purchase of an asset by a firm.

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Etymology

Origin of capital expenditure

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

BNP Paribas economists anticipate the recovery trend in capital expenditure to remain on track, unless critical supply chain bottlenecks emerge, which could drastically weigh on production and corporate revenue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Once the AI capital expenditure boom slows, the tide will go out.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

The alternative argument about the AI build-out is buttressed by the fact that capital expenditure isn’t immediately reflected in profit and losses.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

This will partially offset softer downstream margins and elevated cash capital expenditure of $20.9 billion, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

In a wide view, mine expenditures fall into three classes, which maybe termed the "fixed charges," "proportional charges," and "suspense charges" or "capital expenditure."

From Principles of Mining Valuation, Organization and Administration by Hoover, Herbert