contracted out

USAGE SUMMARY

"contracted out" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
For example, "We have contracted out the job of building the bridge to a local construction company." In this context, "contracted out" means to have assigned a job or task to an outside source or provider.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sometimes the operations are contracted out altogether.

Harvard Business Review

Various services could also be contracted out to private firms.

The New York Times

It is reorganising its sales and marketing departments, and has contracted out its computing systems.

The Economist

Fencing and even branding are contracted out to a new breed of freelance day-labouring cowboys.

The Economist

The job is contracted out to NXEC, a firm set up specifically for the purpose.

The Economist

Eventually, the settlers abandoned the principle of shared labor and contracted out to private work crews.

The New Yorker

Parking enforcement was contracted out, City Hall workers dismissed, street maintenance workers made redundant.

The New York Times

Like many western companies, it has contracted out non-core activities such as catering and transport.

The Economist

R&D is more contracted out to local research providers, in particular to local public laboratories and universities.

Research Policy

Parts of the operation could still be contracted out to private firms via competitive bidding.

The New York Times

At American airports, such jobs are contracted out to specialized companies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contracted out", clearly specify what task or service was outsourced and to whom. For example, "The company contracted out its IT support to a specialized firm."

Common error

Avoid using "contracted out" excessively in the passive voice without indicating who is performing the action. Instead of saying "The work was contracted out", specify "The company contracted the work out to a local vendor".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contracted out" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a phrasal verb. It indicates the action of outsourcing or assigning tasks or services to an external party or organization.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

4%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contracted out" is a common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe the action of assigning tasks or services to an external entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correctly used in sentences such as "The company contracted out its IT support". The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for both professional and general discussions. When using "contracted out", it is best practice to clearly specify what was outsourced and to whom, while avoiding overuse in the passive voice. Alternatives like "outsourced", "subcontracted", and "delegated" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outsourced

Focuses specifically on obtaining services from an external provider.

subcontracted

Suggests a more formal agreement where a primary contractor delegates part of the work to another.

delegated

Implies assigning responsibility or authority to someone else, either internal or external.

farmed out

Informal term for assigning work to an external party.

commissioned

Entails formally requesting and paying for a service or product from an external entity.

hired externally

Emphasizes bringing in outside help for a specific purpose.

procured services

A more formal and business-oriented way of saying that services were obtained from an external provider.

secured externally

Highlights that a service or resource was obtained from an outside source.

externalized

Focuses on moving a function or service outside of the company or organization.

utilized third-party services

Highlights the use of an independent service provider.

FAQs

How do I use "contracted out" in a sentence?

"Contracted out" is used to describe assigning work or services to an external company or individual. For example, "The city "contracted out" its garbage collection services".

What are some alternatives to "contracted out"?

Alternatives include "outsourced", "subcontracted", or "delegated", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "contracted out" or "outsourced"?

Both "contracted out" and "outsourced" are acceptable, but "outsourced" is generally more common in business contexts. "Contracted out" may be preferred when emphasizing a formal agreement.

What's the difference between "contracted out" and "delegated"?

"Contracted out" typically refers to assigning tasks to an external entity through a contract, while "delegated" implies assigning responsibility to someone, either internal or external.