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

As people outsource more of their thinking to software, the business world grows more homogeneous, risk-averse, predictable and, frankly, boring. — David Farbman, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

The company website said the brand doesn’t outsource and instead relies on local suppliers. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

But generative AI has vastly broadened the range of tasks that humans can successfully outsource. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

And so to outsource that to a machine to me is just anathema. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for outsource

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