What does "contractualize" mean?

To represent, model or formalize an agreement, intent or understanding within a legal framework or contract

Contractualize

verb

verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Verb

1
To represent, model or formalize an agreement, intent or understanding within a legal framework or contract
"This approach would contractualize the East's very large numerical advantages in most types of major armaments in the area."
2
To outsource.; To shift from hiring permanent employees to hiring temporary workers, especially those hired on a per-project basis (and thereby avoiding the need to provide legally mandated employee benefits).
"[…] Labor Day is just around the corner, hence, it is timely to examine the current and hot issues affecting the workers’ sector. One such issue concerns the matter of endos, contractuals and contractualized employees. / Endos, contractuals and contractualized employees do not enjoy full security of tenure rights as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Labor Code."
3
To outsource.; To switch from providing public services by the government to contracting service providers in the private sector.
"The advent of the phrase commercial-in-confidence has indeed sent shivers up the spines of numerous citizen groups and auditors general as moves to contractualize and outsource have gathered pace."

"This approach would contractualize the East's very large numerical advantages in most types of major armaments in the area."

From contractual + -ize.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.