Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Subcontractor /səb-kän'-trăkˌ-tẽr/ · Sub·con·tract·or · IPA /səbkˈɑntrˌæktər/ 01 n. One who takes a portion of a contract, as for work, from the principal contractor. 1. One who takes a portion of a contract, as for work, from the principal contractor.