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
The city has since become a hotbed of new development.
—
Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
Incorporated into the city in 1860, this former hamlet was the haunt of Molière and the literati, and later a hotbed of Art Nouveau residences by architect Hector Guimard (the creator of Paris’s iconic Métro entrances).
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
Scott Schrader, cleaning expert at CottageCare, explains how sheets can become a hotbed for bacteria and allergens fairly quickly in the summer because sweat, body oils, dust mites, and skin cells accumulate quickly from excessive heat and humidity.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 31 May 2026
The high-profile demonstrations at Delaney Hall began earlier this month after advocates said detainees inside launched a hunger strike over poor living conditions at the 1,000-bed facility, the latest hotbed of opposition over the federal government's immigration crackdown.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
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Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
Incorporated into the city in 1860, this former hamlet was the haunt of Molière and the literati, and later a hotbed of Art Nouveau residences by architect Hector Guimard (the creator of Paris’s iconic Métro entrances).
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
Scott Schrader, cleaning expert at CottageCare, explains how sheets can become a hotbed for bacteria and allergens fairly quickly in the summer because sweat, body oils, dust mites, and skin cells accumulate quickly from excessive heat and humidity.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 31 May 2026
The high-profile demonstrations at Delaney Hall began earlier this month after advocates said detainees inside launched a hunger strike over poor living conditions at the 1,000-bed facility, the latest hotbed of opposition over the federal government's immigration crackdown.
—ABC News, 31 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 13 Jun. 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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