subcontractor

UK: ˌsʌbˈkɒn.træk.tə | US: ˌsʌbˈkɑːn.træk.tər

Definition

  1. n. a person or business hired by a primary contractor to perform part of a larger project or service.

Structure
sub <under>contract <agreement>or <agent noun suffix>
Etymology

The word "subcontractor" combines three morphemes:

  1. "sub-" (from Latin sub, meaning "under") indicates a secondary or subordinate role.
  2. "contract" (from Latin contractus, meaning "drawn together" or "agreement") refers to a formal work agreement.
  3. "-or" (Latin-derived agent suffix) denotes a person performing an action.
    The term emerged in the 19th century to describe workers hired indirectly through primary contractors, reflecting industrial-era labor hierarchies.
Examples

  1. The general contractor hired a local subcontractor for electrical work.

  2. Subcontractors must adhere to the project's safety regulations.

  3. Our company often works as a subcontractor for larger construction firms.

  4. The subcontractor completed the plumbing installation ahead of schedule.

  5. Payment disputes between contractors and subcontractors are common in this industry.