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

She's also found men often want to outsource tasks, by getting groceries delivered, hiring house cleaners and finding babysitters. —Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025

The chief of staff of another commissioner said the decision to outsource the services is about blending compassion and fiscal responsibility. —Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 July 2025

Toon credits the move to outsource key parts of the semiconductor industry in the ’90s and ’00s, creating an opportunity for firms to specialize in key parts of the chip ecosystem. —Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 July 2025

City Councilman Josh McBroom makes the point that the MDR (Member Directed Resource) will enable us to partly outsource our electricity to clean energy sources. —Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025

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