capital-intensive

[kap-i-tl-in-ten-siv]

adjective

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

capital-intensive

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of capital-intensive¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Writ large, Europe needs a more dynamic financial engine for the capital-intensive goals its leaders have set out in defense, green transition and artificial intelligence.

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The world’s largest asset manager is starting to play its hand in the world’s most capital-intensive market: the AI boom.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Shipbuilding is a capital-intensive business which means you need to spend a lot of money before you can start to make money.

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It is a very capital-intensive industry.

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In all, D’Amaro is in charge of 180,000 employees, many of whom are unionized or part time, meaning he’s used to leading large teams and wildly capital-intensive initiatives.

Read more on Los Angeles Times