hotbed

noun

hot·​bed ˈhät-ˌbed 

1

: a bed of soil enclosed in glass, heated especially by fermenting manure, and used for forcing or for raising seedlings

2

: an environment that favors rapid growth or development

a hotbed of activity

Synonyms of hotbed

• center
• mecca
• nest

Examples of hotbed in a Sentence

a hotbed of political unrest

prerevolutionary Boston was viewed as a hotbed of treason by the British

Recent Examples on the Web

The Milk District is a culinary hotbed these days, but times have changed. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Yet the group secured a booking, other groups like the Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads soon followed suit, and by 1975 CBGB was the hotbed of a scene and sound that would eventually revolutionize rock music. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 7 Nov. 2026

From ‘cortisol face’, the TikTok shorthand for facial puffiness allegedly linked to elevated stress, to the weight loss-adjacent ‘Ozempic face’, social media is now a hotbed for decoding what the body might be telling us in the mirror. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026

From the Los Angeles Times, a story and photos on how Patriot High has become a hotbed for flag football. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hotbed

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead

Kids Definition

hotbed

noun

hot·​bed ˈhät-ˌbed 

1

: a heated bed of soil enclosed in glass and used for growing seedlings

2

: an environment that favors rapid growth or development

a hotbed of innovation