sub·con·tract
ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt 
: a contract between a party to an original contract and a third party
especially
: one to provide all or a specified part of the work or materials required in the original contract
sub·con·tract
ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt
ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrakt
subcontracted; subcontracting; subcontracts
: to let out or undertake work under a subcontract
1
: to engage a third party to perform under a subcontract all or part of (work included in an original contract)
—sometimes used with out
2
: to undertake (work) under a subcontract
Examples of subcontract in a Sentence
Verb
The large firm subcontracted with a smaller company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2024
Clients came to include Walgreens — through a subcontract with Allied Universal, one the nation’s largest providers of guards, to protect about 15 stores.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
According to the union, in the second week of talks the sides discussed AI proposals as well as those related to subcontracting, craft-specific concerns, the contract’s streaming sideletter and wages and benefits.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subcontract 
Noun
Investigators are apparently also looking at city contracts and subcontracts awarded on an emergency basis to set up and operate migrant shelters.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2024
Clients came to include Walgreens — through a subcontract with Allied Universal, one the nation’s largest providers of guards, to protect about 15 stores.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
Verb
The local fire department then subcontracts to a private provider.
—Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
According to the union, in the second week of talks the sides discussed AI proposals as well as those related to subcontracting, craft-specific concerns, the contract’s streaming sideletter and wages and benefits.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for subcontract
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subcontract.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near subcontract
Cite this Entry
“Subcontract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subcontract. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
subcontract
noun
sub·con·tract
ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt
: a contract between a party to an original contract and a third party that assigns part of the performance (as building a house) of the original contract to the third party
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