hotbed

noun

hot·​bed ˈhät-ˌbed How to pronounce hotbed (audio)
Synonyms of hotbednext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
India leads the way population-wise, but other South Asian countries, as well as Great Britain and Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand, are also cricket hotbeds. Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 23 June 2026 The Abbott show was at Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom in June 2025, contributing to a growing buzz around Keyland’s music in the city, especially at the Mercury Lounge, a hotbed of Red Dirt in Tulsa where the band has become a regular. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2026 The title did its part in cementing Miami-Dade County and the surrounding South Florida area as a viable hotbed for championship hoops. James Jackson, New York Times, 20 June 2026 The four execs also noted how Asia is increasingly regarded as a hotbed of innovation. Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hotbed

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hotbed was in 1626

Cite this Entry

“Hotbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbed. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

hotbed

noun
hot·​bed ˈhät-ˌbed How to pronounce hotbed (audio)
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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