outsourced; outsourcing; outsources

transitive + intransitive

: to procure (something, such as some goods or services needed by a business or organization) from outside sources and especially from foreign or nonunion suppliers : to contract for work, jobs, etc., to be done by outside or foreign workers
decided to outsource some back-office operations
Some services and aspects of production were outsourced to cut costs.
Firms outsource to capitalize on their strengths while minimizing business activities that are not core functions.—John K. Borchardt
compare insource

Examples of outsource in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To get around these requirements, some employers outsource to subcontracting firms. — Laina Gustafson, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2026 Given its low-cost nature and the prevalence of automation, bookkeeping is a service that most small businesses can outsource affordably. — Vlad Rusz, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The company website said the brand doesn’t outsource and instead relies on local suppliers. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026 But generative AI has vastly broadened the range of tasks that humans can successfully outsource. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outsource

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outsource was in 1979

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Cite this Entry

“Outsource.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outsource. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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