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
Justice Elena Kagan said whether some states could become magnets for pregnant migrants to give birth, should the high court let the order take effect for some, would create a patchwork of citizenship policies among states.
—
Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Most of those bills have set their sights on the zoning code — the patchwork of land-use standards that dictate which types of buildings can go where.
—Ben Christopher, Mercury News, 16 May 2025
Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has a patchwork background that speaks to the melting pot that is the United States — and his birthplace, the city of Chicago.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
The line includes patchwork and scalloped details, bright summery blues, and lilac flowers.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Most of those bills have set their sights on the zoning code — the patchwork of land-use standards that dictate which types of buildings can go where.
—Ben Christopher, Mercury News, 16 May 2025
Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has a patchwork background that speaks to the melting pot that is the United States — and his birthplace, the city of Chicago.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
The line includes patchwork and scalloped details, bright summery blues, and lilac flowers.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 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 20 May. 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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