botch

1 of 3

verb

botched; botching; botches

transitive verb

1
: to foul up hopelessly
often used with up
2
: to put together in a makeshift way
botcher noun

botch

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: something that is botched : mess
2
botchy adjective

botch

3 of 3

noun (2)

: an inflammatory sore

Examples of botch in a Sentence

Verb The store botched the order—I received only half the books I paid for. They clearly botched the investigation. Noun (1) this police procedural is basically a botch of plot elements stolen from other (and better) novels
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Alabama had been accused of botching an execution attempt using lethal injection, the default method of putting inmates to death. CBS News, 21 Nov. 2024 Her 80-year-old father, John, has long accused local police of botching their investigation. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
But what people would remember, far more than the Mets’ achievement, was Buckner’s botch. Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024 If Tonga Loa is trusted again to play a significant role in this feud after a few high-profile botches, yet another member of the Samoan Dynasty could be called upon to even the odds. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for botch 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bocchen

Noun (2)

Middle English boche, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *bottia boss

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of botch was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near botch

Cite this Entry

“Botch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/botch. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

botch

1 of 2 verb
: to make or do something in a clumsy or unskillful way : spoil, bungle

botch

2 of 2 noun
: a botched job : mess
botchy
adjective

Medical Definition

botch

noun
: an inflammatory sore

More from Merriam-Webster on botch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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