subcontract

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

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Examples: subcontract in a Sentence

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

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Recent Examples of subcontract from the Web

While serving as an informal adviser, Mr. Freedman continued working as a subcontract consultant with the United States Navy and a special government employee with the United States Army, while also running Global Impact.

— New York Times, "Meet the Members of the ‘Shadow N.S.C.’ Advising John Bolton," 21 May 2018
Its initiative is aimed at uncovering any undisclosed side deals or subcontracts and whether any third parties act as pay-to-play gatekeepers for public contracts, the people said.

— andrew scurria, WSJ, "Puerto Rico’s Bankruptcy Advisers Could Get Closer Scrutiny," 9 May 2018
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

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

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subcontract

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

Definition of subcontract

subcontracted; subcontracting; subcontracts

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

To manage the remaining gaps, Grady is subcontracting with MetroAtlanta, AmeriMed, Procare and AmeriPro ambulance services to cover some areas.

— arielle kass, ajc, "Grady says plan in place, will be ready to handle south Fulton service," 29 June 2018
And although 27% of government procurement goes to small businesses, most of that goes via the big operators subcontracting their own work.

— The Economist, "Britain’s outsourcing model, copied around the world, is in trouble," 28 June 2018
Value Recovery Group subcontracted for five previous attorneys general.

— james mcnair, Cincinnati.com, "Mike DeWine contributors get big contracts from Ohio Attorney General's Office," 25 June 2018
That process and result can’t be subcontracted to a Korean President with priorities other than American security.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Moon Over Singapore," 28 May 2018
One potential sticking point is subcontracting deals.

— nathan bomey, USA TODAY, "UPS Teamsters authorize potential strike as negotiations continue," 6 June 2018
The update came as part of a routine contract renewal between the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and computer provider Dell, which subcontracts government work to Microsoft.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "Microsoft makes inroads with U.S. spy agencies," 20 May 2018
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

First Known Use of subcontract

1842

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

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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

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