outsource
/ˈaʊt.sɔːs/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To pay another company or person to do work that your own company could do itself. It often helps save money or time.
- We outsource our payroll to a local firm.
- The company outsourced customer support.
- Many startups outsource design work.
Adinary Nuance
Outsource is more specific than hire or contract. It usually means giving a whole task or service to an outside company, not just employing someone. It is also more business-focused than delegate, which can mean giving work to a person inside your team.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thuê ngoài
- Spanish
- subcontratar
- Chinese
- 外包
- Japanese
- 外注する
- Korean
- 외주 주다
Etymology
Outsource comes from English business language in the late 20th century. It combines out and source, meaning to get work from outside your company.
Common phrases
outsource workoutsource servicesoutsource to a companyoutsource production
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is outsource formal or informal?
- Outsource is neutral and common in business writing and speech.
- What is the difference between outsource and delegate?
- Delegate means give a task to someone else, often inside your team. Outsource means give work to an outside person or company.
- Can I say outsource people?
- Not usually. You outsource work, services, or processes, not people.
- Is outsource common in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is useful for business, economy, and work-related topics.