outsource

verb

out·source | \ ˈau̇t-ˌsȯrs

outsourced; outsourcing; outsources

Definition of outsource

: 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

The union contends American's contract proposal could lead to 5,000 jobs being outsourced. — Dallas News, "American Airlines says mechanics are causing delays. Now, a judge could force the union to pay for it," 30 June 2019 Millions of other middle-class Americans have experienced three decades of wage stagnation, while some companies outsource labor to stay competitive in a global marketplace. — CNN, "Silicon Valley is changing the world. It must do more to ensure everyone benefits," 25 June 2019 But because Netflix most likely works with third-party studios and distributors like Anno’s Studio Khara, outsourcing elements like the audio and language tracks, this kind of direct communication would likely never happen. — Aja Romano, Vox, "Netflix’s re-translation of Neon Genesis Evangelion is drawing backlash for queer erasure," 24 June 2019 An additional consideration here is to ask why this work is being outsourced at all? — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Supervisor budgets $240,000 for office furniture, remodeling," 21 June 2019 But Davis, who controls the company, believes strongly in keeping manufacturing alive, retaining the jobs and traditions that other running-shoe companies have outsourced to overseas partners. — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "New Balance advances plan for sixth New England factory," 19 June 2019 The practice was started by some local manufacturers who have successfully outsourced the labor to China. — CBS News, "That Iceland wool sweater may have been knit in China," 10 June 2019 Among other features familiar to any student of the defense industry, the program relied heavily on outsourcing subcontracts to foreign countries as a means of locking in foreign buyers. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper's magazine, "The Military-Industrial Virus," 10 June 2019 New global markets and commerce meant Western nations outsourced, offshored and ignored their own industries and manufacturing (or anything dependent on muscular labor that could be replaced by cheaper workers abroad). — Victor Davis Hanson, The Mercury News, "Hanson: Why are Western middle classes revolting against the elites?," 13 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outsource.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.