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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
Africa’s telecoms operators are making a rational push that the continent’s regulatory patchwork is becoming too expensive to tolerate.
—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
Administration policy statements have repeatedly focused on maintaining American leadership in AI, reducing barriers to development, and creating a national framework that avoids a patchwork of state-level regulations.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
With more than a dozen new state laws taking effect this year and an additional 300 policies under consideration, a patchwork of local mandates is effectively rewriting the rules of the American supply chain.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
Summer is a great opportunity to spice up my boring denim collection, which is why these patchwork pull-on jeans caught my eye.
—Essence Wiley, InStyle, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
Administration policy statements have repeatedly focused on maintaining American leadership in AI, reducing barriers to development, and creating a national framework that avoids a patchwork of state-level regulations.
—Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
With more than a dozen new state laws taking effect this year and an additional 300 policies under consideration, a patchwork of local mandates is effectively rewriting the rules of the American supply chain.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
Summer is a great opportunity to spice up my boring denim collection, which is why these patchwork pull-on jeans caught my eye.
—Essence Wiley, InStyle, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
Cite this Entry
“Patchwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchwork. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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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