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
Elsewhere, the whole feels like a game but patchwork construct.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 May 2025
Moreover, the legal patchwork of state and federal laws will likely continue to create confusion, especially for businesses trying to operate across state lines.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
The actor infuses this unusual father figure with an overprotective streak and a sense of melancholy to match a patchwork body born from parental abuse.
5.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
In Central Indiana, a patchwork of evangelical churches and universities has been sharing ideas and lessons on how to expand these efforts, broadly known as creation care.
—Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 May 2025
Moreover, the legal patchwork of state and federal laws will likely continue to create confusion, especially for businesses trying to operate across state lines.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
The actor infuses this unusual father figure with an overprotective streak and a sense of melancholy to match a patchwork body born from parental abuse.
5.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
In Central Indiana, a patchwork of evangelical churches and universities has been sharing ideas and lessons on how to expand these efforts, broadly known as creation care.
—Catrin Einhorn, New York Times, 22 Apr. 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 19 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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