contract out

verb

To hire an outside service for a project instead of handling it internally; to sign a contract for provision of a good or service.

“Near-synonyms: farm out, sub out, outsource (all often synonymous)”

Similar
farm outsub outoutsource
Opposite
contract in
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Meanings

verbcontract out (third-person singular simple present contracts out, present participle contracting out, simple past and past participle contracted out)

present singular third person contracts out · participle present contracting out · participle past contracted out · past contracted out

  1. To hire an outside service for a project instead of handling it internally; to sign a contract for provision of a good or service.

    Near-synonyms: farm out, sub out, outsource (all often synonymous)

    Synonyms: farm out, sub out, outsource

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo hire an outside service for a project instead of handling it internally; to sign a contract for provision of a good or service.

Similar
farm outsub outoutsource

More synonyms by meaning

verbrefuse to pay a levy to a union for political use

Opposite
contract in
Broader
refusedecline
Also see
farm outsub out

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

contract out. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contract%20out

MLA

“contract out.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contract%20out. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “contract out,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contract%20out.

Source: contract out on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.