Illustration of patchwork
- patchwork 2
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
That election saw a multitude of opposition parties join forces to form a patchwork administration and oust the LDP for the first time since its formation.
—
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court's ruling opened the door to Trump's order taking effect in parts of the country, fueling uncertainty for immigrants and states grappling with the implications of a potentially patchwork system of citizenship rules.
—Nate Raymond, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
However, the patchwork was not good enough.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
On Wednesday, federal workers stayed home from work, national parks prepared to close down, and people seeking services from the federal government met a patchwork of availability and access.
—Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court's ruling opened the door to Trump's order taking effect in parts of the country, fueling uncertainty for immigrants and states grappling with the implications of a potentially patchwork system of citizenship rules.
—Nate Raymond, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
However, the patchwork was not good enough.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
On Wednesday, federal workers stayed home from work, national parks prepared to close down, and people seeking services from the federal government met a patchwork of availability and access.
—Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 2 Oct. 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 6 Oct. 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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