patchwork

noun

patch·​work ˈpach-ˌwərk How to pronounce patchwork (audio)
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

Illustration of patchwork
  • patchwork 2

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Life insurance and annuities are governed by a patchwork of state laws, federal agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and oversight from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Federal Insurance Office (FIO). Sam Henry, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 Last week, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection unveiled a proposal to trade away more than 600 acres of conserved land in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area in exchange for a patchwork of parcels across the state. Max Chesnes, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025 But experts and controllers have long warned that the patchwork of radios and radars connecting the network needs urgent upgrades. Melanie Hicken, CNN Money, 21 May 2025 Even Gorsuch expressed concern about the chaos of a patchwork of citizenship rules. Erwin Chemerinsky, Twin Cities, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for patchwork

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of patchwork was in 1634

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Patchwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchwork. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

patchwork

noun
patch·​work ˈpach-ˌwərk How to pronounce patchwork (audio)
1
: something made up of various parts
2
: pieces of cloth of various colors and shapes sewn together usually in a pattern
patchwork adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on patchwork

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!