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

Payroll, materials, subcontractors, equipment and insurance costs continue regardless of when an owner processes a pay application. — Nikhil Chandankhede, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

This is in contrast to companies like Lowe’s and The Home Depot, which use third-party subcontractors to install their windows (inevitably leading to less consistency in installation quality from region to region). — Jason Rueger, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

Ethics also limit how many cases lawyers can take on, says Emily Brock, deputy managing attorney for the children’s program at the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, an Acacia subcontractor. — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026

For solicitations over $100,000, the city aims for a 30% utilization rate, either through self‑performance or certified small-business subcontractors within the five‑county region. — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 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