subcontract

American  

[suhb-kon-trakt, suhb-kon-, suhb-kuhn-trakt] / sʌbˈkɒn trækt, ˈsʌbˌkɒn-, ˌsʌb kənˈtrækt /

noun

1. a contract by which one agrees to render services or to provide materials necessary for the performance of another contract.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a subcontract for.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a subcontract.

subcontract British  

noun

1. a subordinate contract under which the supply of materials, services, or labour is let out to someone other than a party to the main contract

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verb

1. to enter into or make a subcontract

2. (tr) to let out (work) on a subcontract

Etymology

Origin of subcontract

First recorded in 1595–1605; sub- + contract

Explanation

A subcontract is a legal agreement to do part of a larger job. A worker or small company usually signs a subcontract with a larger company. As a verb, subcontract means to hire a person or company to complete part of a job. An example might be a construction company that's been employed to build a house deciding to subcontract all the plumbing and electrical work out. In other words, they are paid for the entire job, and then they pay a plumber and an electrician to do specific parts of the job.

Example Sentences

Subcontract employees were believed to have been at fault in two, the blasts at Arco and Phillips.

From Time Magazine Archive

Subcontract, sub-kon′trakt, n. a contract subordinate to another contract, as for the subletting of work.—v.i.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Related Words

• hire out
• rent out
• sublet