sourcing

American

[sawr-sing, sohr-] / ˈsɔr sɪŋ, ˈsoʊr- /

noun

Economics.

the buying of components of a product from an outside supplier, often one located abroad.

Foreign sourcing in the auto industry has eliminated jobs.

Etymology

Origin of sourcing

source + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sourcing enough sustainable aviation fuel remains a challenge for the entire industry because production is still limited and it costs far more than conventional jet fuel.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

Sourcing all of his materials from outside China meant paying a premium.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Sourcing water for household use “takes a remarkable amount of time,” says Asheville resident Ricardo Seijo.

From Slate • Nov. 2, 2024

Sourcing data from the Swedish Military Conscription Register and other Swedish registries, the researchers identified over a million 18-year-old males and followed them for 60 years.

From Science Daily • Nov. 17, 2023

Sourcing things like the correct wheels that would make it appear that Trolley is seamlessly traveling down Someplace Else’s cobblestone path took time, as did finding the exact red for Trolley’s iconic color.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023