capital-intensive

adjective

cap·​i·​tal-in·​ten·​sive ˈka-pə-tᵊl- in-ˈten(t)-siv 

ˈkap-tᵊl-

: having a high capital cost per unit of output

especially : requiring greater expenditure in the form of capital than of labor

Examples of capital-intensive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the capital-intensive Alaska project, which would include 807 miles of pipeline and an LNG export facility, has been under development for over a decade and delayed by a lack of financing and purchase agreements. — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Leaders at major tech firms continue to emphasize massive energy needs, but any signs of rising interest rates or tighter credit conditions have hit capital-intensive utility stocks first. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Coca-Cola owns a couple of capital-intensive businesses, including Fairlife, whose spending counts toward its own capex. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026

Modular plants challenge ammonia megaprojects Traditional ammonia production has typically relied on large, capital-intensive plants. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for capital-intensive

• antihypertensive
• apprehensive
• coextensive
• comprehensive
• hypertensive
• hypotensive
• inexpensive
• inoffensive
• normotensive
• counteroffensive
• defensive
• expensive