crowdsource

[ kroud-sawrs, -sohrs ]

verb (used with or without object)

, crowd·sourced, crowd·sourc·ing.

1. to utilize (labor, information, etc.) contributed by the general public to (a project), often via the internet and without compensation:

   The team's use of Facebook to crowdsource accurate scientific data allowed the project to be completed on time.

   The newspaper crowdsourced its investigation into the scandal.

crowdsource

/ ˈkraʊdˌsɔːs /

verb

1. to outsource work to an unspecified group of people, typically by making an appeal to the general public on the internet

Derived Forms

• ˈcrowdsourcing, noun

Other Words From

• crowdsourcing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crowdsource¹

First recorded in 2006; crowd ¹ + (out)source

Word History and Origins

Origin of crowdsource¹

c21: from crowd + (out)source

Example Sentences

Rather than casting models for the collection, we used real women whom we crowdsourced via an Instagram campaign.

From Fortune

If you’re a startup looking to crowdsource funding for a new consumer product, your return on ad spend to get in front of potential backers is probably more important than time spent on-page.

From Search Engine Land

At some point, likely aided by crowdsourcing initiatives, these maps will become living breathing, real-time representations of the world.

From Singularity Hub 

What started as how do we crowdsource to handle the whack-a-mole we realized that it was bigger, we needed a coalition and to involve stakeholders like GARM and ANA.

From Digiday

Find opportunities to crowdsource and automate your digital marketing in order to efficiently keep up with trends.

From Search Engine Watch

Earlier this month, Mosaic started a new initiative to crowdsource solar arrays on schools.

From The Daily Beast