Source (noun) — the origin or starting point of something; the place, person, or thing from which something comes or can be obtained.
Source (verb) — to find or obtain a supply of something, especially materials or goods.
What Does Source Mean?
Source entered English in the 14th century from Old French sourse (a spring of water), itself derived from Latin surgere meaning "to rise" — the same root that gives us surge and resurge. The original, literal meaning was the spring or head of a river: the place where water rises from the ground. Over time the meaning broadened to cover any point of origin or supply.
Today source is one of the most versatile words in English. As a noun it describes where information, energy, income, or ideas come from. In academic and journalistic contexts it refers specifically to a document, person, or piece of evidence that supplies data or facts. As a verb it is widely used in business to mean obtaining materials or goods from a particular supplier: "We source all our coffee from small farms in Colombia."
The word appears across many fields: computing (source code), journalism (a reliable source), academia (primary source), cooking (locally sourced ingredients), and everyday speech (a source of inspiration). Mastering its collocations and register will significantly improve the natural quality of your English.
Example Sentences (A2 → C1)
| Sentence | Level / Usage note |
|---|---|
| The internet is a good source of information. | A2 — simple noun, everyday context |
| She used a range of sources to find authentic English reading material. | B1 — plural noun, study context |
| The company sources its raw materials from certified suppliers in the UK. | B1 — verb in business context |
| Journalists are required to protect the identity of a confidential source. | B2 — noun, journalism register |
| Tracing the outbreak to its source required months of epidemiological analysis. | C1 — noun, academic/scientific register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| reliable source | Always check that you are quoting from a reliable source. |
| primary source | The original letter is the primary source for this study. |
| secondary source | A textbook is a secondary source — it interprets primary material. |
| source of income | Freelance writing is his main source of income. |
| source of information | The internet can be a useful source of information if used carefully. |
| source of energy | Solar panels are an increasingly popular source of energy. |
| cite a source | You must cite every source you use in an academic essay. |
| trace to its source | Investigators tried to trace the leak to its source. |
| open source | Linux is a well-known open source operating system. |
| locally sourced | The restaurant prides itself on using locally sourced produce. |
Usage Notes
As a noun, source is countable: a source, several sources, my sources tell me. In the phrase "at source" (meaning at the point of origin, before any deductions), it is used without an article: tax deducted at source.
As a verb, source is transitive and common in professional English: to source ingredients / staff / funding. It is not typically used in casual conversation; in everyday speech you would more likely say get or find.
Register: The noun is neutral and used across all registers. The verb is more formal and appears mainly in business, supply chain, and culinary contexts. In journalism, a source often specifically means an anonymous informant: "A source close to the government told reporters that…"
Pronunciation: British English /sɔːs/ (rhymes with course). Do not confuse with sauce /sɔːs/ — they are homophones in British English, but entirely different words.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
According to internet, the population of London is over eight million.
According to online sources, the population of London is over eight million. (always name a specific source)
She cited many informations from different sources.
She cited information from many different sources. (information is uncountable)
The company sourced their new manager from a recruitment agency.
The company recruited their new manager through a recruitment agency. (source is used for materials/goods, not people in most contexts)