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
Since then, more than 1,000 of these home kitchens have opened across California, operating under a growing but still patchwork system.
—
Itay Hod, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Giannoulias wants to see uniform rules for the whole state rather than the patchwork laws that have been adopted by communities, Jungo said.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Researchers found that homeless liaisons often have to cross-check a patchwork of systems to confirm a student’s eligibility and status.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Classic and chenille embroidery, leather braiding, needling, carpet stitch, patchwork, foil print and hand painting are just some of the techniques the firm uses to transform trims from functional elements to small yet impactful branding solutions.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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Itay Hod, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Giannoulias wants to see uniform rules for the whole state rather than the patchwork laws that have been adopted by communities, Jungo said.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Researchers found that homeless liaisons often have to cross-check a patchwork of systems to confirm a student’s eligibility and status.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Classic and chenille embroidery, leather braiding, needling, carpet stitch, patchwork, foil print and hand painting are just some of the techniques the firm uses to transform trims from functional elements to small yet impactful branding solutions.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
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 Apr. 2026.
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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