subcontracted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "subcontracted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the practice of assigning part of a contract or project to another party or company. Example: "The main contractor subcontracted the electrical work to a specialized firm to ensure quality and efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bob Carr has been accused of bigotry and exaggerating the influence of the pro-Israel lobby to sell his book after asserting in his new political memoir that Australian foreign policy had been "subcontracted" to pro-Israeli donors.

The Guardian

Every time it moves, it has to get past yet another sentry, called an interface, hired by whichever vendor was subcontracted to build that particular intersection.

The Economist

They are to be managed by the government (with the investments subcontracted to big money managers).

The Economist

They did the design, engineering and assembly work but subcontracted the manufacturing of parts to other suppliers in what Mr Dowson describes as "Motorsport Valley", an area stretching through the middle of England.

The Economist

He presents the news that Reebok has just decided to withdraw business from a subcontracted factory in Thailand as a proof of corporate caring.

The Economist

His stimulus package, though huge, was subcontracted to Congress, which did a mediocre job: too much of the money will arrive too late to be of help in the current crisis.

The Economist

He does not have to be feared to be taken seriously.Alexander Tregub San Jose, CaliforniaThe following letter appears online onlySIR – I can only assume that you have subcontracted your coverage of Barack Obama to an editorial team from the Republican National Committee.

The Economist

Bizarrely, they cited the importance of relations with China, as if the foreign ministry had subcontracted its diplomatic responsibilities to a low level of the judiciary.

The Economist

She says there is "mistreatment and abuse" at the hands of firms subcontracted to handle detention and expulsion.

The Economist

Big western IT-services companies such as IBM, Accenture and EDS ran out of engineers to check old code and subcontracted some of the work to Indian firms instead.Once the Indians had saved the world, they set out to conquer it.

The Economist

Sony, for instance, has subcontracted the production of its original PlayStation video-game machine to a Chinese company but makes its new PlayStation 2 model in Japan.The trend towards more outsourcing is not confined to manufacturing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "subcontracted", ensure the context clearly identifies the original contractor and the entity receiving the subcontracted work. This clarifies the chain of responsibility and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "subcontracted" is often used in the passive voice, overuse can make writing sound weak. Instead of saying "The work was subcontracted", consider "The company subcontracted the work to..." for a more direct and active tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "subcontracted" is as the past tense or past participle of the verb "subcontract." It describes an action where a company or individual delegates a portion of their contractual obligations to another party, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

13%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "subcontracted" is a versatile term, commonly used to describe the delegation of work from one party to another, as affirmed by Ludwig. It functions grammatically as the past tense or past participle of "subcontract" and typically appears in professional and neutral contexts such as news and business. Ludwig examples highlight its frequent use in describing business agreements, project management, and manufacturing processes. While grammatically correct, it's important to avoid overuse of the passive voice when using "subcontracted". Alternatives like "outsourced" or "delegated" may be suitable depending on the specific nuances you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contracted out

Similar to "subcontracted" but emphasizes the act of creating a contract for external work.

outsourced

Refers specifically to obtaining services or products from an outside supplier, often internationally, broadening the scope of delegation.

farmed out

Implies delegating work, often tasks that are considered less desirable or specialized.

delegated

Focuses on the act of assigning responsibility or authority to another party.

assigned

A more general term for giving a task or duty to someone.

commissioned

Involves formally requesting and paying for a specific service or product.

had done by a third party

A more descriptive way of saying work was given to an external entity.

procured externally

Highlights the acquisition of services or goods from an outside source.

arranged for

Indicates that arrangements were made for someone else to handle the task.

had an external provider

Directly states that an outside entity was responsible for the work.

FAQs

How to use "subcontracted" in a sentence?

"Subcontracted" is the past tense and past participle of "subcontract", meaning to hire a third party to perform part of a contract. For example, "The main contractor "subcontracted" the plumbing work to a specialized firm".

What can I say instead of "subcontracted"?

You can use alternatives like "outsourced", "farmed out", or "delegated" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "subcontracted" and "outsourced"?

"Subcontracted" typically refers to delegating part of an existing contract to another party, while "outsourced" refers to obtaining services or products from an external supplier, often internationally. Both terms involve delegating work, but "outsourced" often implies a broader scope.

Is "subcontracted" formal or informal language?

"Subcontracted" is generally considered neutral to formal language, suitable for professional, business, and news contexts. It's commonly used in contexts where contractual agreements are discussed.