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 internet has become a hotbed for the monetization of almost anything, and as media literacy is in decline — likely not as a result of laziness, but rather overwhelm — it’s never been easier to convert this overwhelm into sales. — Big Think, 21 Aug. 2026

Jacquet was raised in the Ile‑de‑France region in greater Paris, a hotbed for talent. — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

That’s quite a claim from a man who oversees one of the world’s most prolific hotbeds of anti-vaccine conspiracism. — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2026

Throughout the night, Allie and Owen’s paths continue to cross in the hotbed of lust sweeping across the Big Apple, leading each to wonder if they are truly meant for each other or just there to exist as the means for a desperate encounter. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 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