subcontract

1 of 2

noun

sub·​con·​tract ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt 

: 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

subcontract

2 of 2

verb

sub·​con·​tract ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt 

ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrakt

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

Examples of subcontract in a Sentence

Verb

The large firm subcontracted with a smaller company.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The organization also said in court and has already lost a subcontract with a contractor trying to comply with the executive order. —Alexandra Olson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025

In the meantime, Rocket Lab previously received a subcontract to help Canada’s MDA design and manufacture 17 satellites to refresh the constellation for Globalstar, which has been powering satellite iPhone features for Apple. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2025

Verb

Brock addressed the audience via video conferencing, as did two others whose expertise is walking potential vendors through the machinations of doing business with NASA directly or by subcontracting with prime contractors, such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. —Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2025

The Acacia center provides legal services for unaccompanied migrant children under 18 through a network of legal aid groups that subcontract with the center. —Janie Har, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1660, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1842, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for subcontract

• artefact
• artifact
• counteract
• inexact
• interact
• noncontact
• reenact
• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract

Kids Definition

subcontract

noun

sub·​con·​tract

ˈsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt,

-ˌkän-

: a contract between a party to an original contract and a third party who usually agrees to supply work or materials required in the original contract

subcontract

ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt

ˈsəb-;

ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrakt

verb

subcontractor

ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər

ˈsəb-;

ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrak-tər

noun

Legal Definition

subcontract

noun

sub·​con·​tract ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt 

: 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

subcontract

ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt, -kən-ˈtrakt 

verb