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

The long-term prospects of the war don’t spell improvement for the hotbed, with a report from Reuters indicating drone attacks could disrupt the Strait of Hormuz for months. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026

Patrolling a ‘hotbed’ of congestion, rage On Sunday afternoons, Ada County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Seibert likes to position his patrol motorcycle along the rocky curves of Idaho 55. —Rose Evans updated March 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026

While seniors may flock to popular retirement destinations and affluent neighborhoods, Sapraicone warns the environment could be a potential hotbed for robberies and home burglaries. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026

San Diego is a year-round hotbed. —Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 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