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

The plan, for example, includes proposals to outsource some of the agency’s role in scientific research. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 3 Dec. 2025

The models have continued to get better, helping build websites and other models, and allowing people to outsource more and more of their decisions. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2025

So for a full year afterward, Sanchez and his team strategized how to chip away at all the companies that don’t lease trucks from Ryder or any of its competitors, nor outsource transportation to them. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025

The Education Department has inked agreements with four other federal agencies to outsource some of its key functions. —Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Nov. 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