1 B1 idiomatic informal
To send work or a task to an external person or company to complete.
"The agency farmed out the graphic design work to a studio in Barcelona."
separable
farm out
B2 informal separable transitive
To send work, responsibility, or a person to someone else to deal with, especially to an outside organisation.
In plain English
To give your work or a person to someone else to take care of.
What does "farm out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To send a person (such as a child or employee) to be cared for or trained by someone else.
"While their parents were working abroad, the children were farmed out to different relatives."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
(Sports) To loan a player to a lower-level team for more playing time.
"The young midfielder was farmed out to a lower-division club to gain experience."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Originally referred to sending farm animals or land out to be managed by others — the metaphor of delegating care.
Actually means
To give your work or a person to someone else to take care of.
Usage tip
Common in business, journalism, and everyday speech. Originally from the practice of sending children to live with other families. Can feel slightly negative, implying the original party is passing on a burden.
Words that pair with "farm out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
work contract children task production services
How to conjugate "farm out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
farm out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
farms out
he/she/it
Past simple
farmed out
yesterday
Past participle
farmed out
have + pp
-ing form
farming out
continuous
Hear "farm out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "farm out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "farm out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.