capital-intensive
UK[ˌkæpɪtl ɪnˈtensɪv]US[ˌkæpɪtl ɪnˈtensɪv]
adj
(of a business or industrial process) requiring a large amount of money to be invested in equipment, machinery, etc., relative to the amount of labor used.
Morpheme Breakdown
capital
intensive
capital
wealth
intensive
concentrated
Etymology
The term is a modern compound, formed in the 20th century within the field of economics. It combines 'capital,' which evolved from the Latin for 'head' to signify primary wealth or resources, with 'intensive,' derived from a Latin root meaning 'stretched' to indicate a high degree of concentration. The logic is direct: the word literally describes an activity where the primary input or the concentrated focus is on financial capital rather than human labor. This reflects a key dichotomy in production theory, classifying processes based on their dominant factor of production.
Analysis
Structure: capital (wealth) + intensive (concentrated)
- capital: From Latin capitalis (of the head, principal, chief), from caput (head). In this compound, it functions as a noun denoting wealth or money used for investment.
- intensive: From Latin intensus (stretched tight, intense), via the Medieval Latin suffix -ivus. In this compound, it functions as an adjective-forming suffix meaning "characterized by, tending towards."
Examples
The transition from a labor-intensive to a capital-intensive industry often leads to initial job losses.
Semiconductor manufacturing is a highly capital-intensive business, requiring billions in investment for fabrication plants.
Their competitive advantage lies in proprietary technology, not in capital-intensive production methods.