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
When there are spaces between your pavers, those spaces will fill up with organic matter over time, potentially creating a hotbed of weed activity.
—
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Though separated by roughly 2,200 miles (3,547 kilometers) and an international border, the two newest markets meet various league expansion criteria, including being hotbeds for female hockey development.
—John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
More recently, nearby Shasta County has become a hotbed of election denialism and MAGA politics, with its Board of Supervisors voting in 2023 to end the use of Dominion Voting Systems machines in favor of pursuing a hand-counting system.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
These vessels have been notorious hotbeds for the spread of other infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and norovirus.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
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David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
Though separated by roughly 2,200 miles (3,547 kilometers) and an international border, the two newest markets meet various league expansion criteria, including being hotbeds for female hockey development.
—John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
More recently, nearby Shasta County has become a hotbed of election denialism and MAGA politics, with its Board of Supervisors voting in 2023 to end the use of Dominion Voting Systems machines in favor of pursuing a hand-counting system.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
These vessels have been notorious hotbeds for the spread of other infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and norovirus.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
Cite this Entry
“Hotbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbed. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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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