# capex

/ˈkæp.ɛks/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/capex
Updated: 2026-10-12

## Definition

Stands for Capital Expenditure. The money a company spends to buy, fix, or improve long-term assets like buildings, machines, or equipment.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Capital Expenditure. Funds used by a company to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, plants, or technology. Often contrasted with operating expenses (opex) in financial reporting.

## Examples

- The board approved a large capex budget for the new factory.
- Management decided to increase capex this year to modernize their aging fleet of delivery trucks.
- While the firm's revenue remained stable, a significant increase in capex for research and development facilities led to a temporary decrease in free cash flow.

## Synonyms

investment, outlay, expenditure

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