outsource

verb

out·​source ˈau̇t-ˌsȯrs 

outsourced; outsourcing; outsources

transitive + intransitive

: to procure (something, such as some goods or services needed by a business or organization) from outside sources and especially from foreign or nonunion suppliers : to contract for work, jobs, etc., to be done by outside or foreign workers

decided to outsource some back-office operations

Some services and aspects of production were outsourced to cut costs.

Firms outsource to capitalize on their strengths while minimizing business activities that are not core functions.

—John K. Borchardt

compare insource

Examples of outsource in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When should someone outsource their investing strategy versus DIYing it? —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026

Try a reflexology technique or outsource your rubdown to one of the best heated mechanical foot massagers. —Stefanie Groner, Glamour, 4 Feb. 2026

The model the federal government had used to outsource research to universities since World War II seemed to be collapsing. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026

And as The Mind Company’s work suggests, the future may belong not to those who outsource their minds—but to those who continue to train them. —Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for outsource

• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce
• indorse
• midcourse
• perforce
• racecourse
• racehorse
• remorse
• seahorse
• workforce