capital goods

American  

plural noun

Economics.

1. machines and tools used in the production of other goods (contrasted with consumer goods).

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capital goods British  

plural noun

1. Also called: producer goods.  economics goods that are themselves utilized in the production of other goods rather than being sold to consumers Compare consumer goods

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capital goods Cultural  

1. Goods used in the production of commodities; producers' goods. (Compare consumer goods.)

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Etymology

Origin of capital goods

First recorded in 1895–1900

Compare meaning

How does capital-goods compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• consumer vs. capital goods

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capital goods

But exports of intermediate inputs and capital goods increased by more than $175 billion from the year prior, helping push China’s trade surplus to a record $1.2 trillion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

In the first five months of 2026, China’s exports of intermediate and capital goods rose 25% and 12%, respectively, from a year earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Nondefense capital goods orders ex-aircraft, or core goods orders, have continued to strengthen in Q2.

From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026

Government data showed that exports of capital goods like computers and civilian aircraft also climbed.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

In 1971 the capital goods sector employed 52.5 percent of the industrial labor force and produced 56 percent of the output.

From Area Handbook for Bulgaria by Violeta D. Baluyut