Illustration of patchwork
- patchwork 2
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
Synonyms
- agglomerate
- agglomeration
- alphabet soup
- assortment
- botch
- clutter
- collage
- crazy quilt
- farrago
- gallimaufry
- grab bag
- gumbo
- hash
- hodgepodge
- hotchpotch
- jambalaya
- jumble
- jungle
- litter
- macédoine
- medley
- mélange
- menagerie
- miscellanea
- miscellany
- mishmash
- mixed bag
- montage
- motley
- muddle
- olio
- olla podrida
- omnium-gatherum
- pastiche
- patchwork quilt
- potpourri
- ragbag
- ragout
- rummage
- salad
- salmagundi
- scramble
- shuffle
- smorgasbord
- stew
- tumble
- variety
- welter
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
Regulators eventually did produce a patchwork of policies in a federal order but did not engage with industry during the development process.
—
Kay Russo, Scientific American, 11 June 2024
But unlike in liberal California, organizers in some of those states must navigate a patchwork of onerous bureaucratic hurdles and overcome hostile political opposition.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2024
Beyoncé also nodded to another timely event, Pride Month, complementing her black and purple Prince tee with a patchwork denim Balenciaga handbag decorated with two pride flags.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 8 June 2024
Several national railways and private operators have moved in to meet the rising demand, and the result is a patchwork of overnight routes sold at over 30 different websites.
—Albert Stumm, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for patchwork 
Kay Russo, Scientific American, 11 June 2024
But unlike in liberal California, organizers in some of those states must navigate a patchwork of onerous bureaucratic hurdles and overcome hostile political opposition.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2024
Beyoncé also nodded to another timely event, Pride Month, complementing her black and purple Prince tee with a patchwork denim Balenciaga handbag decorated with two pride flags.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 8 June 2024
Several national railways and private operators have moved in to meet the rising demand, and the result is a patchwork of overnight routes sold at over 30 different websites.
—Albert Stumm, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for patchwork
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patchwork.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near patchwork
Cite this Entry
“Patchwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchwork. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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