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
The 49ers’ patchwork defense did enough to keep it close, and eventually sealed the deal with a stop in the final minute.
—
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
In four short videos on an electronic device found with his body, the suspect in last month’s fatal shootings at Brown University and of an MIT professor laid out a patchwork of details about the attacks.
—Michelle Krupa, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Development in the Ag Reserve has taken on somewhat of a sprawl-like, patchwork appearance, largely the result of rules created to keep the area dedicated primarily to agricultural uses.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
That being said, keep the vest on the simpler side to avoid overwhelming the patchwork details.
—Lindy Segal, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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Cam Inman, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
In four short videos on an electronic device found with his body, the suspect in last month’s fatal shootings at Brown University and of an MIT professor laid out a patchwork of details about the attacks.
—Michelle Krupa, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
Development in the Ag Reserve has taken on somewhat of a sprawl-like, patchwork appearance, largely the result of rules created to keep the area dedicated primarily to agricultural uses.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
That being said, keep the vest on the simpler side to avoid overwhelming the patchwork details.
—Lindy Segal, InStyle, 9 Jan. 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 13 Jan. 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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