patchwork

noun

patch·​work ˈpach-ˌwərk 

often attributive

1

: something composed of miscellaneous or incongruous parts : hodgepodge

2

: pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together to form a covering

also : something resembling such a covering

a patchwork of fields

Illustration of patchwork

• patchwork 2

Synonyms of patchwork

• jumble
• medley
• variety
• assortment
• collage
• hodgepodge
• mishmash

Examples of patchwork in a Sentence

The valley is a patchwork of family farms.

A patchwork of laws prevent the land from being developed.

a patchwork system of laws

Recent Examples on the Web

The report said state responses to the federal changes have varied, creating a patchwork of different regulations. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026

But without widespread availability of such programs, parents have been forced to navigate a patchwork of child care — paying for after-school, hiring babysitters, or relying on family members to fill the gap. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026

That pattern is feeding a cycle that pushes more young workers away from traditional employment and toward the patchwork arrangements of poly-employment. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026

Greenlee described a patchwork of funding pulled together over the course of years to bring the market to the construction phase. —Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing patchwork

• patchwork quilt

Rhymes for patchwork

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• earthwork

Kids Definition

patchwork

noun

patch·​work ˈpach-ˌwərk 

1

: something made up of various parts

2

: pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together usually in a pattern

patchwork adjective