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
Following years of patchwork enforcement efforts, including an anti-crypto regime at the SEC, there finally seems to be progress on effective, common-sense, and actionable regulation for crypto payments.
—
Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The trend, which was huge in the 2010s in a memorable patchwork pattern, is actually a super comfortable way to rock shorts while traveling.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2025
The area surrounding Channel 24 is predominantly residential, with narrow streets and a patchwork of existing parking restrictions, as well as a Sacramento Regional Transit light-rail station.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The sound echoes around the stadium and out across the Maidan, a verdant patchwork of pitches right in the heart of Kolkata that serves, as well as anywhere, as the spiritual home of Indian football.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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.
Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
The trend, which was huge in the 2010s in a memorable patchwork pattern, is actually a super comfortable way to rock shorts while traveling.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2025
The area surrounding Channel 24 is predominantly residential, with narrow streets and a patchwork of existing parking restrictions, as well as a Sacramento Regional Transit light-rail station.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2025
The sound echoes around the stadium and out across the Maidan, a verdant patchwork of pitches right in the heart of Kolkata that serves, as well as anywhere, as the spiritual home of Indian football.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 26 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share