outsourced

USAGE SUMMARY

"outsourced" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of obtaining goods or services from an external source instead of providing them internally. For example, "The company decided to outsource software development to a third-party vendor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

When Shrewsbury council merged with Shropshire in 2009, it outsourced management of Emstrey.

The Guardian

The Greens leader, Christine Milne, characterised this as an attempt to "corporatise" the aid program, while the opposition's foreign affairs spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek, she was concerned by the cuts to the aid budget and the "suggestion that Australia's overseas aid can be outsourced to the private sector".

The Guardian

"If we'd outsourced that I dread to think what would have happened," says Sir Andrew.Britain's export performance is so poor that it needs to sell more of everything, everywhere.

The Economist

But hours later, just before the mediator's arrival, a deal was struck.Workers from the 800-member Office Clerical Unit had downed keyboards on November 27th, alleging that jobs were being outsourced.

The Economist

Firms now operate in a "snap-together" world in which almost anything can be outsourced and done offshore.

The Economist

This probably would have meant fewer well-paid skilled jobs.Even if Apple had outsourced development, Amar Bhide would probably contend that America still benefits.

The Economist

The proponents of a bailout argue that if the government combined all the bad debts into single heap even if it outsourced their management then some of the conflicts that have divided creditors to date could be avoided.

The Economist

The "business-as-usual" bits of their operations have been outsourced, leaving them free to design and orchestrate new ideas.

The Economist

In a way, Germany has outsourced all its outsiders to the Argen (it is unfortunate that "arg" also happens to mean "bad" in German).The big question is whether these bodies will do a better job than the BA did.

The Economist

Germans were the biggest beneficiaries of the post-war bargain under which Europe outsourced its security to America and used the money it saved to build the welfare state, notes Jan Techau of the NATO Defence College in Rome.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

So the incumbents have shifted towards using off-the-shelf chips and software, and to increasing their use of outsourced manufacturing, in the form of both EMS and ODM firms.Motorola and Sony Ericsson now outsource around 35% of their manufacturing, and neither firm any longer designs its own radio chips.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the geographical and economic implications when using "outsourced", as it often implies cost savings or access to specialized skills in other locations.

Common error

Avoid using "outsourced" vaguely. Instead of saying 'The company outsourced,' specify what was outsourced, such as 'The company outsourced its customer service operations'.

Linguistic Context

The term "outsourced" primarily functions as an adjective to describe activities, departments, or jobs that are contracted to external providers. As Ludwig highlights, it correctly describes obtaining services from an external source.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outsourced" is a commonly used adjective that signifies the delegation of tasks or functions to external entities. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in written English. It's frequently found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, indicating its prevalence in discussions about business strategy and economics. Remember to clearly specify what is being outsourced to avoid vagueness. By providing alternative phrases and highlighting common errors, this analysis helps refine the use of "outsourced" for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contracted out

Replaces "outsourced" with a focus on formal agreements.

externalized

Focuses on moving a function outside the company, synonymous with "outsourced".

subcontracted

Similar to "outsourced", but emphasizes a hierarchical delegation of work.

sourced externally

Emphasizes the external origin of the service or product, comparable to "outsourced".

delegated

Indicates a general assignment of responsibility, similar to "outsourced".

offshored

Specifically indicates outsourcing to a foreign country, a subset of "outsourced".

procured externally

Highlights obtaining services from outside the organization, mirroring "outsourced".

farmed out

An informal way to describe delegating tasks to an external entity, similar to "outsourced".

commissioned

Suggests formally requesting services from an external party, akin to "outsourced".

had recourse to

Signifies turning to an external resource, implying "outsourced" support.

FAQs

How can I use "outsourced" in a sentence?

You can use "outsourced" to describe the act of delegating tasks or functions to external entities. For example, "The company "outsourced its IT department" to reduce costs".

What is a good alternative to the word "outsourced"?

Alternatives to "outsourced" include "contracted out", "delegated", or "subcontracted", depending on the context.

What does it mean when a job is "outsourced"?

When a job is "outsourced", it means that the work is being done by an external company or individual, often located in another country, rather than by the company's own employees.

What's the difference between "outsourced" and "offshored"?

"Outsourced" means delegating tasks to an external party, while "offshored" specifically refers to relocating business functions to a foreign country, often to reduce costs.