Illustration of patchwork
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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
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
Sam Altman of OpenAI, for one, talked about this kind of patchwork system as being a challenge.
—
John Werner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Future challenges to presidential actions may require either cumbersome class action lawsuits or a patchwork of individual cases – potentially leaving many Americans without immediate protection from policies that courts determine violate the Constitution.
—Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
Prominent Republicans, most notably Texas Senator Ted Cruz, have led the charge, arguing that a patchwork of shoddy state legislation would stunt the AI industry and burden small entrepreneurs.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 25 June 2025
Elias Díaz and Maldonado are given a lot of credit internally for the Padres’ somewhat patchwork pitching staff having the league’s ninth-best ERA (3.64) and fourth-lowest batting average allowed (.229).
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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John Werner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Future challenges to presidential actions may require either cumbersome class action lawsuits or a patchwork of individual cases – potentially leaving many Americans without immediate protection from policies that courts determine violate the Constitution.
—Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
Prominent Republicans, most notably Texas Senator Ted Cruz, have led the charge, arguing that a patchwork of shoddy state legislation would stunt the AI industry and burden small entrepreneurs.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 25 June 2025
Elias Díaz and Maldonado are given a lot of credit internally for the Padres’ somewhat patchwork pitching staff having the league’s ninth-best ERA (3.64) and fourth-lowest batting average allowed (.229).
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
Cite this Entry
“Patchwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchwork. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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