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
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
Part tour guide, part dream coach, Ney’s job was to explain how such a gargantuan feat was even possible, especially built on a strata of unstable mud near a hotbed of seismic activity.
—
Katie Lauer, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
Authorities say the shooters had spent much of November in the Philippines, an area known as a hotbed for terrorists.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
At the time, Oakland was one of the hotbeds where protesters and police clashed.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
Over the years, stories of lawlessness on cruises have both captivated and horrified travelers, with experts often pointing out how the unique environment often serves as a hotbed for bad actors and troublesome events.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
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Katie Lauer, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
Authorities say the shooters had spent much of November in the Philippines, an area known as a hotbed for terrorists.
—Mahsa Saeidi, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
At the time, Oakland was one of the hotbeds where protesters and police clashed.
—Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
Over the years, stories of lawlessness on cruises have both captivated and horrified travelers, with experts often pointing out how the unique environment often serves as a hotbed for bad actors and troublesome events.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
Cite this Entry
“Hotbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbed. Accessed 30 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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