Illustration of patchwork
- patchwork 2
patchwork
noun
patch·work
ˈpach-ˌwərk 
often attributive
1
: something composed of miscellaneous or incongruous parts : hodgepodge
2
: pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together to form a covering
also
: something resembling such a covering
a patchwork of fields
Synonyms
- agglomerate
- agglomeration
- alphabet soup
- assortment
- botch
- clutter
- collage
- crazy quilt
- farrago
- gallimaufry
- grab bag
- gumbo
- hash
- hodgepodge
- hotchpotch
- jambalaya
- jumble
- jungle
- litter
- macédoine
- medley
- mélange
- menagerie
- miscellanea
- miscellany
- mishmash
- mixed bag
- montage
- motley
- muddle
- olio
- olla podrida
- omnium-gatherum
- pastiche
- patchwork quilt
- potpourri
- ragbag
- ragout
- rummage
- salad
- salmagundi
- scramble
- shuffle
- smorgasbord
- stew
- tumble
- variety
- welter
Examples of patchwork in a Sentence
The valley is a patchwork of family farms.
A patchwork of laws prevent the land from being developed.
a patchwork system of laws
Recent Examples on the Web
Airbnb’s international footprint amid the patchwork of carbon monoxide regulation presents an already-challenging compliance landscape for the company, which says it's advocated for carbon monoxide detector regulation in Mexico and other countries.
—
Ben Goggin, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023
From the patchwork and beadwork by Mickalene Thomas to the beating heart by Joana Vasconcelos, every artist invited into the house maintains her own visual identity.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2023
Each offers a boundary in the patchwork of forest ecology, a corridor for animal movement and a home for the creatures seeking hiding places.
—Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023
This patchwork of enforcement, in which some deaths are investigated and others are ignored, is fundamentally unfair, advocates say.
—Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2023
Plus, the complicated patchwork of compliance regulations from states to countries can risk fines and damages for companies storing users’ private data.
—Mike Tuchen, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
The portal patchwork worked well to create buzz around the program and flip USC from a total mess into a team that, while flawed, could spend time in the top 10 and tease its fans into believing.
—J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2023
The United States has no coherent system of long-term care, mostly a patchwork.
—Jordan Rau, Fortune Well, 16 Nov. 2023
In the absence of any international court or tribunal that has jurisdiction over Syrian crimes, a patchwork of efforts for accountability has been underway for some time.
—Marlise Simons, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
See More
Ben Goggin, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023
From the patchwork and beadwork by Mickalene Thomas to the beating heart by Joana Vasconcelos, every artist invited into the house maintains her own visual identity.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2023
Each offers a boundary in the patchwork of forest ecology, a corridor for animal movement and a home for the creatures seeking hiding places.
—Robert Thorson, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Nov. 2023
This patchwork of enforcement, in which some deaths are investigated and others are ignored, is fundamentally unfair, advocates say.
—Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2023
Plus, the complicated patchwork of compliance regulations from states to countries can risk fines and damages for companies storing users’ private data.
—Mike Tuchen, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
The portal patchwork worked well to create buzz around the program and flip USC from a total mess into a team that, while flawed, could spend time in the top 10 and tease its fans into believing.
—J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2023
The United States has no coherent system of long-term care, mostly a patchwork.
—Jordan Rau, Fortune Well, 16 Nov. 2023
In the absence of any international court or tribunal that has jurisdiction over Syrian crimes, a patchwork of efforts for accountability has been underway for some time.
—Marlise Simons, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patchwork.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing patchwork
Dictionary Entries Near patchwork
Cite this Entry
“Patchwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchwork. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
patchwork
noun
patch·work
ˈpach-ˌwərk
1
: something made up of various parts
2
: pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together usually in a pattern
patchwork
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on patchwork
Nglish: Translation of patchwork for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of patchwork for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about patchwork
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