outsource

verb

out·​source ˈau̇t-ˌsȯrs How to pronounce outsource (audio)
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.
That research also provides some experimental examination of when and why people are willing to outsource their critical thinking to AI, and how factors like time pressure and external incentives can affect that decision. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026 Both companies outsource installation to third-party contractors, which can lead to varied customer experiences. Dan Simms, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026 Effective leaders do not outsource judgment to groupthink. Gary Shapiro, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026 While other leaders like Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia outsource the complex and expensive manufacturing of their silicon, Intel both designs and manufactures its own chips — with hopes of manufacturing for others, too. Lola Murti,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 1 Apr. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outsource.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outsource. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on outsource

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster