capital-intensive

American

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

adjective

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

capital-intensive Cultural

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

Etymology

Origin of capital-intensive

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The selloff in the shares has brought investor expectations to levels that better reflect the uncertainty and risks of Oracle’s transition to a capital-intensive business,” Oppenheimer analysts led by Brian Schwartz said in a Wednesday note to clients.

From MarketWatch

“Financing risk to support the company’s transition to a capital-intensive business has pushed Oracle’s credit default swaps to the highest levels since the Great Recession,” he wrote.

From MarketWatch

The risks around Oracle’s shift to a more capital-intensive business focused on mass data-center construction are starting to clear up, Oppenheimer said.

From Barron's

Goldman Sachs noted capital-intensive European companies outperformed capital-light stocks by 35% since 2025 amid AI disruption.

From Barron's

Analysts at Goldman Sachs noted in a report Tuesday that a basket of European companies it considers capital-intensive has outperformed capital-light stocks—in industries such as media, retail, business services, and software—by 35% since 2025.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023