English

insource

gb/ˈɪnsˈɔɹs/ us/ˈɪnsˈɔɹs/
C1 English
Senses
0 senses
Verb business C1 action
1

Use internal company resources

To do a job inside a company instead of paying another company to do it.

Usage pattern: insource [work/service/production]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse it with outsource, which means to give work to an outside company.
Synonyms
bring in-house (More common and less formal; often emphasizes moving work inside the organization.) | internalize (More formal or technical; can refer to making something internal in many contexts.)
Antonyms
outsource (Means to give work or services to an outside supplier or contractor.)
Collocations
insource work |insource services |insource production |insource operations |insource IT |insource payroll |insource manufacturing |insource a function |insource a process |decide to insource
Themes
business |management |work |operations
Examples
  • The company decided to insource its customer support to improve quality control.
  • Several hospitals have insourced cleaning services instead of using private contractors.
  • Management believes it can save money by insourcing more of the design work.
Learner examples
  • We will insource payroll next year.
  • The firm insourced its IT support.
Verb business C1 action
2

Bring outsourced work back

To bring a job back into the company after another company was doing it.

Usage pattern: insource [previously outsourced work/service]
Common mistake:
This meaning usually implies the work was outsourced before; if not, use the broader meaning of doing work internally.
Synonyms
bring back in-house (Clearer and more common in everyday business language.) | repatriate (More formal and less common; often used for returning operations, jobs, or assets.)
Antonyms
outsource (Means to move work out to an external supplier.)
Collocations
insource a contract |insource outsourced work |insource a previously outsourced service |insource facilities management |insource call-center operations |insource after outsourcing
Themes
business |management |contracts |operations
Examples
  • After complaints about delays, the retailer insourced the delivery planning it had outsourced two years earlier.
  • The council voted to insource waste collection when the private contract ended.
  • They are considering whether to renew the vendor agreement or insource the service.
Learner examples
  • The company insourced the work again.
  • They insourced cleaning after the contract ended.
Grammar
Dictionary form
insource
IPA
GB/ˈɪnsˈɔɹs/
US/ˈɪnsˈɔɹs/
Syllables & stress
in - source (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (in)
Word forms
Verb
  • Base: insource
  • 3rd Person Singular: insources
  • Present Participle: insourcing
  • Past: insourced
  • Past Participle: insourced
Expressions

No expressions linked to this entry yet.

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