subcontract

noun sub·con·tract \ ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of subcontract

: 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

See subcontract defined for English-language learners

See subcontract defined for kids

Recent Examples of subcontract from the Web

But that would not have come with a big Chinese loan or the cash that was splashed out on subcontracts and the land purchases needed for the new line.

— The Economist, "Loans, trains and automobilesDid Kenya get a loan to build a railway, or vice versa?," 22 Mar. 2018
At the half-day session — from 8 a.m. to noon — local businesses will be made aware of opportunities to bid for subcontracts for work on Fermilab projects.

— staff report, Aurora Beacon-News, "Fine Arts Festival set at West Aurora High School," 9 Feb. 2018
Almost all the work that Carillion won was outsourced to subcontractors, who would often sub-subcontract it in turn.

— The Economist, "Cleaned outWhere did Carillion go wrong?," 18 Jan. 2018
Prosecutors allege that FitzGerald and Coffland influenced Company #1 to hire TCC as a subcontractor, and in return, Maudlin and Pangallo would issue a percentage of the money from the subcontracts back to FitzGerald and Coffland.

— fatima hussein, Indianapolis Star, "Indianapolis tech executives indicted in bribery scheme," 29 Sep. 2017
That is partly because contracts and subcontracts are spread across dozens of states.

— andy pasztor, WSJ, "SpaceX’s Mars Vision Puts Pressure on NASA’s Manned Exploration Programs," 4 Oct. 2017
According to a Department of Labor spokesman, Scott Allen, CRG was responsible for all violations and back wages owed because the subcontracts did not include these contract stipulations.

— karen caffarini, Post-Tribune, "Contractor ordered to pay $100k in back wages for Hammond project," 19 Sep. 2017
Those nonprofits, in turn, ink subcontracts to provide actual services.

— tyrone lomax jr., miamiherald, "New foster-care boss gets a laundry list of what needs fixing," 3 Sep. 2017
In 2009, E-Word Recyclers secured a subcontract to destroy knock-off merchandise confiscated by Customs and Border Protection.

— david hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Man sentenced to prison for trafficking in counterfeit goods," 21 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subcontract.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of subcontract

1660

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

subcontract

verb sub·con·tract \ ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt , ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrakt \

Definition of subcontract

intransitive verb

: to let out or undertake work under a subcontract

transitive verb

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

See subcontract defined for English-language learners

Examples of subcontract in a Sentence

The large firm subcontracted with a smaller company.

Recent Examples of subcontract from the Web

Seventeen Nigerian survivors of a 2017 migrant boat sinking have filed a case with the European Court of Human Rights accusing Italy of violating their human rights by subcontracting their rescue to the Libyan coast guard.

— Fox News, "Migrants accuse Italy of responsibility for Libyan abuses," 8 May 2018
The policy memo, quietly issued by the agency in February with immediate effect, places additional requirements on companies that subcontract their employees.

— trisha thadani, San Francisco Chronicle, "New H-1B requirements make visa out of reach for smaller firms, suit says," 3 May 2018
Workers say Tesla exemplifies the trend, making ample use of subcontracted staff in a wide range of roles at the Fremont factory, which is racing to accelerate production of its all-electric Model 3.

— bloomberg, latimes.com, "Contract workers' suit alleging racist behavior at Tesla threatens to shine unwelcome light on carmaker's culture," 12 Apr. 2018
In this case that's Innovative Teaching Solutions (ITS), run by school founder Melvin Smith, which then subcontracts to AES, run by Melvin Smith's wife, Karon, and her brothers Raymond and Scott.

— allie gross, Detroit Free Press, "Teachers, students want answers after Old Redford Academy dismissals," 29 Mar. 2018
The 750-bed Karnes County Residential Center, another family detention facility, is officially operated by Karnes County, which subcontracts with Geo Group.

— jason buch, San Antonio Express-News, "Watchdog: Arizona city didn’t need to be ‘middleman’ in contract for detention center," 1 Mar. 2018
Wolkoff was also one of the key planners for Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration, and her responsibilities included securing venues and subcontracting out to New York society event planner David Monn.

— corynne cirilli, Town & Country, "The Rise and Fall of Stephanie Winston Wolkoff," 22 Mar. 2018
Initially, Malhotra subcontracted work to embroidery and print shops.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Fairfield High School grads find success in e-commerce with personalized gifts for kids, pets," 20 Mar. 2018
Centro subcontracts much of its work on the PID to other companies.

— richard webner, San Antonio Express-News, "Downtown nonprofit spent thousands of tax dollars to entertain, lobby," 24 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of subcontract

1842

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SUBCONTRACT Defined for English Language Learners

subcontract

noun

Definition of subcontract for English Language Learners

: a legal agreement by which you hire another person or company to do part of a job you have been hired to do

subcontract

verb

Definition of subcontract for English Language Learners

: to hire another person or company to do part of a job that you have been hired to do

Law Dictionary

subcontract

noun sub·con·tract \ ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt \

legal Definition of subcontract

: 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

—