sub·con·tract
ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt 
: a contract between a party to an original contract and a third party
especially
: one to provide all or a specified part of the work or materials required in the original contract
sub·con·tract
ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt
ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrakt
subcontracted; subcontracting; subcontracts
: to let out or undertake work under a subcontract
1
: to engage a third party to perform under a subcontract all or part of (work included in an original contract)
—sometimes used with out
2
: to undertake (work) under a subcontract
Examples of subcontract in a Sentence
Verb
The large firm subcontracted with a smaller company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 10 July 2025
Leiweke, 68, reportedly conspired with another bidder to have that company drop out in exchange for subcontracts at the $388 million arena.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 9 July 2025
Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 6 May 2025
According to sources familiar with the situation, Ahmad and other employees of his subcontracting company shared a recommender who issued letters for many of the company’s employees.
—Beth Bailey, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subcontract
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Noun
By February 2018, Leiweke and his rival CEO allegedly reached an agreement where Legends would not submit a bid in return for receiving subcontracts, according to the indictment.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 10 July 2025
Leiweke, 68, reportedly conspired with another bidder to have that company drop out in exchange for subcontracts at the $388 million arena.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 9 July 2025
Verb
The April 25 termination of a contract with Acacia Center for Justice, the contractor that subcontracts with several of the legal groups that sued, had immediate impact, Faherty said.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 6 May 2025
According to sources familiar with the situation, Ahmad and other employees of his subcontracting company shared a recommender who issued letters for many of the company’s employees.
—Beth Bailey, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subcontract
Cite this Entry
“Subcontract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subcontract. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
subcontract
noun
sub·con·tract
ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt
: a contract between a party to an original contract and a third party that assigns part of the performance (as building a house) of the original contract to the third party
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