WordValeoutsourcing
contracting work to external providers
In more detail
1. (noun) the practice of hiring an outside company or workers to do work that a company previously did itself, usually to save money or get specialized skills
2. (verb) to hire an outside company or workers to do work instead of doing it yourself within your own organization
Examples
- 1. The company reduced costs through outsourcing of its customer service department to another country.
- 2. Many tech companies outsource their manufacturing to factories in Asia.
How to use outsourcing
Outsourcing is a business practice commonly discussed in corporate and economic contexts, referring to delegating work to external providers, often in different countries (offshoring). It emphasizes cost reduction or accessing specialized expertise. The term is neutral in denotation but carries different connotations depending on perspective: businesses may view it positively for efficiency gains, while others may associate it with job losses.
Common phrases
- outsource to a company
- outsource manufacturing
- outsource customer service
- outsource IT support
- outsourcing agreement
- global outsourcing
Synonyms
contracting out · subcontracting · offshoring · externalizing · delegating to third parties
Opposites
in-sourcing · insourcing
Word family
outsource (verb) · outsourced (adjective) · outsourcer (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse outsourcing with offshoring; outsourcing is the practice itself, while offshoring specifically means outsourcing to another country.
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