subcontractor

[ suhb-kon-trak-ter, suhb-kon-, suhb-kuhn-trak-ter ]

noun

1. Law. a person who or business that contracts to provide some service or material necessary for the performance of another's contract.
2. a person or business firm contracted to do part of another's work.

Word History and Origins

Origin of subcontractor¹

First recorded in 1835–45; sub- + contractor

Example Sentences

They were firing some of their vendors and subcontractors and replacing them as recently as this month.

From Salon

It is the main contractor on a project to build three support ships for the Royal Navy with Harland and Wolff acting as subcontractor.

From BBC

Some subcontractors couldn’t meet their output quotas, creating huge production logjams when crucial parts weren’t available in the necessary sequence.

From Los Angeles Times

It is the main contractor on a project to build three support ships for the Royal Navy with Harland and Wolff as subcontractor.

From BBC

Workers at a company that delivered packages for Amazon are considered employees of the e-commerce giant, the National Labor Relations Board said Thursday, rejecting Amazon’s claim that it is not responsible for the subcontractor’s staff.

From Los Angeles Times