subcontract

1 of 2

noun

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

subcontract

2 of 2

verb

sub·​con·​tract ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt 

ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrakt

subcontracted; subcontracting; subcontracts

intransitive verb

: to let out or undertake work under a subcontract

transitive verb

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

Noun

Madigan’s use of ComEd as a source of funneling cash to his political lieutenants in the form of no-work lobbying subcontracts formed the bulk of the feds’ case in 2023 against McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and others. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025

Rego carried out the scheme by directing the employee to submit monthly invoices with a line-item expense for subcontracts and supplies and to include the cost of the devices in that line-item, according to the indictment. —Jason Green, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2025

Verb

Federal contracts require that companies over a certain size set goals for subcontracting spending on businesses owned by underrepresented individuals. —Lucinda Shen, Axios, 27 Nov. 2024

Mayor Brandon Scott’s office is widely anticipated to take over or subcontract to a third party many of the duties that traditionally have fallen to BOPA: planning public celebrations such as Artscape, running the weekly farmers markets and managing a handful of event spaces. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1660, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1842, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

subcontract

noun

sub·​con·​tract

ˈsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt,

-ˌkän-

: a contract between a party to an original contract and a third party who usually agrees to supply work or materials required in the original contract

subcontract

ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt

ˈsəb-;

ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrakt

verb

subcontractor

ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər

ˈsəb-;

ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrak-tər

noun

Legal 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

subcontract

ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt, -kən-ˈtrakt 

verb