1 B2 neutral
To arrange for work or services to be done by an external company rather than internally.
"The council decided to contract out its cleaning services to a private company to cut costs."
separable
contract out
B2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To arrange for work to be done by an outside company rather than internally, or to formally withdraw from a scheme.
In plain English
To pay an outside company to do work for you, or to formally choose to leave a plan or scheme.
What does "contract out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 formal
To formally withdraw from or choose not to participate in a scheme or arrangement.
"Workers were automatically enrolled in the pension plan but could contract out if they chose."
inseparable
Usage tip
Common in business, government, and employment contexts. The 'outsource' sense is very common in business language. The 'withdraw from a scheme' sense is mainly British and appears in pension and employment law discussions.
Words that pair with "contract out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
work services cleaning catering pension scheme
How to conjugate "contract out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
contract out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
contracts out
he/she/it
Past simple
contracted out
yesterday
Past participle
contracted out
have + pp
-ing form
contracting out
continuous
Hear "contract out" in the wild
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