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

Hong Kong Fashion Fest, now in its third edition, continues to raise the city’s international fashion profile, supporting the Asian hub’s status as a hotbed for creativity. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

The intersection of video games and trading cards has been a hotbed of activity and collaborations. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

The entertainment industry, filled with those on the extreme far left of the political spectrum, has now become a hotbed of anti-Israel sentiment. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

The internet has become a hotbed for the monetization of almost anything, and as media literacy is in decline — likely not as a result of laziness, but rather overwhelm — it’s never been easier to convert this overwhelm into sales. — Big Think, 21 Aug. 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