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

Illustration of patchwork

• patchwork 2

Synonyms of patchwork

• jumble
• medley
• variety
• assortment
• collage
• hodgepodge
• mishmash

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

Quince’s Italian Leather Patchwork Crossbody looks just like the Puzzle Edge Bag from Loewe, with its high-quality leather construction and patchwork design. — Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

For the Toy Story 5 premiere, the singer opted for a patchwork, off-the-shoulder mini dress from designer Erdem Moralioglu's Fall 2026 collection. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 July 2026

Yet in many municipalities, responsibility for maintaining sidewalks is a patchwork system, often left to private owners rather than local government. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Finally, as deployments move across borders, particularly in sovereign cloud environments, governance can become a patchwork of region-specific rule books applied to the same systems. — Greg Pavlik, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing patchwork

• patchwork quilt

Rhymes for patchwork

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• earthwork

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