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

If the orchestration layer belongs to one lab, every other model vendor becomes their subcontractor, not your supplier. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026

The city denied involvement in decisions concerning the spectators and an OutKick reporter, identifying the stadium operator and its subcontractors as responsible. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Studios are also starting to keep their IP and build their own businesses instead of working only as subcontractors, and live-action producers are doing the same. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

The budget includes building materials, tool replacements and payments to subcontractors who come in and teach specific home renovation skills as needed. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 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