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

For round two, the team plans to outsource the task of evaluating each entry to mathematicians hired as anonymous reviewers, funded with a mix of grant money and donations from AI companies. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026

By contrast, Foxx’s administration did not outsource any post-conviction work in 2024, according to a review of the records. —Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026

Bailey said the city should return to 2015 staffing levels and try to outsource many services to the private sector. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026

The problems during the latest shutdown are renewing attention to ways to prevent airport security operations from being slowed during political impasses, including allowing more airports to outsource security screening while maintaining TSA oversight. —John Seewer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 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