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

With top tech companies shifting their cash flow toward heavily artificial-intelligence-fueled capital expenditure, the buybacks that have supported the market for so long will diminish.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

He also says that lower capital expenditure outlook is positive for cash generation, which came as a surprise, and the new lower level is one that should be sustainable even if macro trends improve.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

SK Hynix is investing to meet that need and said it would significantly increase its capital expenditure this year.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Investors anticipate Big Tech earnings, hoping for increased capital expenditure and news of AI models using Blackwell hardware.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

The total railway earnings at the Cape and Natal together over all their lines amounted to £3,916,566 in 1895, and the capital expenditure on railways by these colonies amounts to £26,000,000.

From South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 1 (of 6) From the Foundation of Cape Colony to the Boer Ultimatum of 9th Oct. 1899 by Creswicke, Louis