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.
Unfortunately, that process is labor-intensive and extremely unpleasant, and a number of the people infected caught the virus while culling chickens. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025 Like the Ivory Lady, they likely were also revered women, as something as intricate and labor-intensive as these clothes weren’t made for everyday use or easily accessible, researchers said. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025 The breakfast tacos are clearly labor-intensive and carefully composed to order. Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025 Despite significant cost reductions in recent years, sequencing remains expensive and labor-intensive. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near labor-intensive

Cite this Entry

“Labor-intensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/labor-intensive. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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