labor-intensive

adjective

la·​bor-in·​ten·​sive ˈlā-bər-in-ˌten(t)-siv How to pronounce labor-intensive (audio)
: having high labor costs per unit of output
especially : requiring greater expenditure on labor than in capital

Examples of labor-intensive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In my case, that often means answering questions about trees, shrubs, flowers, lawns, and the labor-intensive world of turfgrass management. Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026 Wool Blankets New wool blankets are an investment—the raw materials are costly, and production is labor-intensive. Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 2 May 2026 The California Department of Public Health had also initially planned to develop a tool that would streamline the labor-intensive process of inspecting healthcare facilities. William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026 That would make recovery relatively straightforward, if labor-intensive—were Iran, in fact, cooperative. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for labor-intensive

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of labor-intensive was in 1928

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Cite this Entry

“Labor-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labor-intensive. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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