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
sub·con·tract
ˌsəb-ˈkän-ˌtrakt
ˌsəb-kən-ˈtrakt
subcontracted; subcontracting; subcontracts
: to let out or undertake work under a subcontract
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
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
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
Beth Bailey, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
The company still subcontracts some work out but is planning to start bending its own steel frames and doing its own insulation work.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subcontract
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Noun
Pearson, who resigned in October after the raid, delayed the awarding of a Brooklyn migrant shelter contract in 2023 in an effort to get Dietl a security subcontract at the site, Politico reported last year.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
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
Verb
According to sources familiar with the situation, Ahmad and other employees of his subcontracting company shared a recommender who issued letters for many of the company’s employees.
—Beth Bailey, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
The company still subcontracts some work out but is planning to start bending its own steel frames and doing its own insulation work.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subcontract
Cite this Entry
“Subcontract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subcontract. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
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