Outsource

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "outsource" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to obtain goods or services from an outside or foreign supplier, especially in place of an internal source. Example: "The company decided to outsource their IT services to a reputable firm in India, which resulted in significant cost savings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The more likely it seems that they won't get a second term, the more eager they are to press on with their project to outsource, shrink and commercialise as much of the state as they can.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was an effort to outsource manufacturing to poorer developed countries to keep costs down and to maintain higher profits.

The Guardian

"What we had last night from the federal government was a flick pass … you cannot outsource your problems to the states … that's not good enough, the people of NSW want to know we will stand up for them and that is exactly what we will do," Baird said.

The Guardian

Two years ago, the University of Sussex followed suit after students occupied a campus building over plans to outsource 235 members of staff MP John McDonnell spoke out at the time against what he saw as a wave of intimidating crackdowns against student protesters.

The Guardian

The council is also seeking to outsource the entire library service – including this library – adding further uncertainty.

The Guardian - Books

Next decide whether you want to do the work in-house or outsource it to an agency.

The Guardian

But while sharing customer information makes sense, payroll and financial information tend to be more jealously guarded, and bosses tend to be reluctant to outsource the storage and processing of it.

The Economist

Perhaps drug firms could cut costs and outsource production and R&D.

The Economist

Mr Mehri has written a book on his experiences, "Notes from Toyota-Land," published by Cornell University Press.Outside inForeign Affairs, May/June 2006"The Globally Integrated Enterprise By Samuel J. PalmisanoTechnology has not only allowed firms to reduce their costs, operate from afar, and outsource work to others it has also allowed companies to combine these trends into something new.

The Economist

It has kept a lot of manufacturing in-house (why outsource to Foxconn when you already pay Chinese wages?).

The Economist

He didn't outsource his thinking to think-tanks; he thought.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outsource", clearly specify which function or task is being delegated and to whom. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clear understanding.

Common error

Don't assume that outsourcing automatically guarantees high quality. Establish clear quality metrics and monitoring processes to ensure the outsourced work meets your standards.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "outsource" is as a verb. It describes the action of delegating business functions or tasks to a third-party provider. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outsource" is a verb commonly used in business and economic contexts to describe delegating tasks or functions to external providers. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Key considerations for using "outsource" effectively include clearly specifying the task and the recipient, and ensuring quality control measures are in place. While alternatives like "contract out" and "delegate" exist, the choice depends on the specific context and the nature of the relationship being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Contract out

Implies a formal agreement to have someone else perform a specific task.

Subcontract

Suggests delegating part of an existing contract to another party.

Farm out

Indicates assigning work to an external provider, often in a different location.

Delegate

Highlights the act of entrusting responsibility to another party.

Assign

Focuses on giving a task or responsibility to someone else.

Transfer

Emphasizes the movement of a task or function to an outside entity.

Commission

Implies formally requesting and paying for a service from an external provider.

Procure externally

Focuses on obtaining services or goods from outside the organization.

Source externally

Highlights finding resources or services from external providers.

Hand over

Suggests relinquishing control and responsibility for a task to another party.

FAQs

How to use "outsource" in a sentence?

You can use "outsource" to describe delegating tasks to external companies, for example: "The company decided to "outsource" their customer service to a specialized firm."

What can I say instead of "outsource"?

You can use alternatives like "contract out", "subcontract", or "farm out" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "outsource" and "delegate"?

"Outsource" typically involves hiring an external company, while "delegate" means assigning a task to someone within your own organization.

Is it always beneficial to "outsource"?

While outsourcing can reduce costs and improve efficiency, it's not always beneficial. Consider factors like communication barriers, quality control, and potential risks before you "outsource".