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

Large firms plan to increase capital expenditure by 3.3% in the current business year, the tankan showed, compared with the 10.9% rise planned the previous year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Analysts argue concerns over Microsoft’s $100 billion capital expenditure are shortsighted, as cloud contracts cover hardware life.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Historically, Petronas has ramped up capital expenditure following oil-price rallies, as seen after the 2016 and 2022 upcycles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Global capital expenditure on the mineral has plunged by two-thirds since 2010 to about $5 billion last year, says James Whiteside, Wood Mackenzie’s head of corporate research.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

The capital expenditure has been a little over £2,000,000.

From The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir by Douie, James McCrone, Sir