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
Additionally, data from Verisk CargoNet reveals that the New York City metropolitan area has become a hotbed for criminal groups looking to misdirect shipments while in transit, with states like California, Florida and Texas also serving as a catalyst for cargo thefts.
—
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
What results is a hotbed of conflict and character, a Joseph Campbell-esque journey of growth, rebirth, and death—in this case, being voted out by your tribemates.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
View gallery - 4 images There's an old saying that everything in Australia wants to eat you – and this apparently includes plants, with the island a global hotbed of carnivorous species.
—New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2025
Andrew Harnik | Getty Images The timing of the pipe-bomb placement, and the elusiveness of the perpetrator, have made the case a hotbed of conspiracy theories.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
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Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
What results is a hotbed of conflict and character, a Joseph Campbell-esque journey of growth, rebirth, and death—in this case, being voted out by your tribemates.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
View gallery - 4 images There's an old saying that everything in Australia wants to eat you – and this apparently includes plants, with the island a global hotbed of carnivorous species.
—New Atlas, 5 Dec. 2025
Andrew Harnik | Getty Images The timing of the pipe-bomb placement, and the elusiveness of the perpetrator, have made the case a hotbed of conspiracy theories.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
Cite this Entry
“Hotbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbed. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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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