seedbed

noun

seed·​bed ˈsēd-ˌbed 

1

: soil or a bed of soil prepared for planting seed

2

: a place or source of growth or development

Synonyms of seedbed

• center
• nursery
• hotbed
• nest
• seminary
• hothouse
• nidus
• hub
• mecca
• capital

Examples of seedbed in a Sentence

a social and political environment that would later become a seedbed of the abolition movement

that think tank has served as a seedbed for American conservatism since the Cold War era

Recent Examples on the Web

The fine mulch is easy to spread around young, tender seedlings and breaks down throughout the season, improving the soil structure and creating an excellent seedbed for next year’s vegetable garden. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2026

Place screens over the seedbed if digging rodents are a problem. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026

But this extraordinary seedbed of talent may not last forever. — Gabriel Snyder, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025

In the short run, however, New York’s economic downfall was a boon to its unrivaled status as a seedbed of art and culture. — Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

seedbed

noun

seed·​bed ˈsēd-ˌbed 

: soil or a bed of soil prepared for planting seed