hodgepodge

noun

hodge·​podge ˈhäj-ˌpäj 

: a heterogeneous mixture : jumble

a hodgepodge of styles

Synonyms

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

Examples of hodgepodge in a Sentence

the exhibit was a hodgepodge of mediocre art, bad art, and really bad art

Recent Examples on the Web

The guard played off the ball with the Sun, then back-up one with the Lynx and a hodgepodge of the two positions in Chicago. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025

But too much funny business is given to the likes of Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce, and a hodgepodge of modern and legendary golfers (John Daly is the lone standout). —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 30 July 2025

The American public should realize that the figures appearing in the chart’s left column represent a hodgepodge of factors that (while not all wholly irrelevant to global trade tensions) cannot be conveniently translated into a statistic that bears any relation to real-world tariff rates. —Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025

With a hodgepodge group at running back featuring Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue and others, success up front will be the biggest factor in determining if the run game comes back to life in 2025. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of hotchpotch

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hodgepodge

• fuselage
• auge
• hodge
• podge
• dislodge

Kids Definition

hodgepodge

noun

hodge·​podge ˈhäj-ˌpäj 

: a confused mixture : jumble

Etymology

an altered form of hotchpotch, from Middle English hochepot "mixed stew," derived from early French hochepot (same meaning), from hochier "to shake" and pot "pot, container"

Word Origin

Hodgepodge and its older form hotchpotch are part of a group of words that rhyme all by themselves. Hobnob and willy-nilly are others. In the case of hodgepodge and hotchpotch, the rhyme is not an accident. These words came to English from early French in the form hochepot. The spelling was changed to make the second half of the word rhyme with the first. In French hochepot was a stew of many foods cooked together in a pot. Perhaps the pot was shaken instead of stirred since hochepot was formed from hochier, meaning "to shake," and pot, which had the same meaning in early French as it does in English now. Before long hotchpotch and hodgepodge were used not just for a mixture of foods cooking in a pot but for any mixture of different things.

Legal Definition

Hodge Podge

noun

ˈhäj-ˌpäj

: main pot