capital-intensive

American  

[kap-i-tl-in-ten-siv] / ˈkæp ɪ tl ɪnˈtɛn sɪv /

adjective

1. requiring or using a very large amount of capital relative to the need for or use of labor.

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capital-intensive Cultural  

1. A term describing industries that employ relatively few laborers but that use expensive equipment. (Compare labor-intensive.)

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Etymology

Origin of capital-intensive

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Although AI models greatly improved in performance in 2025, “investor patience is running quite thin for yet another capital-intensive training cycle” absent accompanying adoption and monetization from key AI players, Bernstein’s Mark Shmulik wrote in a Monday note.

From MarketWatch

If Venezuelan production does ramp up in the near term, it’s likely to be in those fields, though, rather than capital-intensive Orinoco megaprojects.

From Barron's

If Venezuelan production does ramp up in the near term, it’s likely to be in those fields, though, rather than capital-intensive Orinoco megaprojects.

From Barron's

Apple is known for “steering away from capital-intensive kinds of product development within artificial intelligence and essentially saying, may the best product win and we’re going to collect the toll on the other side of it if you want to access our iOS users,’” said Matt Stucky, the chief portfolio manager for equities at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management.

From MarketWatch

Capital-intensive foreign investments in the Russian Arctic or elsewhere would involve heavy initial costs and bring returns only years later, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal