subcontractor

noun

sub·​con·​trac·​tor ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər 

ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrak-

: an individual or business firm contracting to perform part or all of another's contract

Examples of subcontractor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Engineers, owners, contractors, inspectors, subcontractors and suppliers must coordinate closely. — Javier Campaña Minchong, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

The Pentagon’s supplier certification program recently suspended independent assessments due to start in November, covering 220,000 companies, mostly small to mid-sized subcontractors in the defense space. — Keegan Crage, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026

The suit also claims that Sanborn used some of Gardner's money to pay subcontractors deposits of 50%, 60% and even 80% before any work had been done. — John Wisely, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Its on-site subcontractors were previously ordered by the city to award some $230,000 in back-pay to workers. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subcontractor

• benefactor
• chiropractor
• malefactor
• multifactor
• acter
• actor
• factor
• tractor
• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor
• contactor

Legal Definition

subcontractor

noun

: one (as an individual or business) that contracts to perform part or all of the obligations of another's contract