Langimage
English

subcontract

|sub/con/tract|

B2

/ˈsʌbˌkɒn.trækt/

secondary contract

Etymology
Etymology Information

'subcontract' originates from the Latin prefix 'sub-' meaning 'under' and the word 'contract' from Latin 'contractus', meaning 'drawn together'.

Historical Evolution

'subcontract' evolved from the Middle English 'contract' and the prefix 'sub-' was added to denote a secondary or subordinate contract.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'a secondary contract', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a contract assigning some of the obligations of a prior contract to another party.

The company signed a subcontract to handle the logistics.

Synonyms

Verb 1

to assign or delegate a task or project to another party under a subcontract.

The main contractor decided to subcontract the electrical work.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39