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
Empathy, the nuclear fusion of playwriting, is expanded when we’re allowed to take in more of our patchwork selves.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Towering redwoods crowd the ridgelines; the valley floor unrolls in a patchwork of vineyards, apple orchards and small farming towns.
—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The Democratic Party will need to embrace a similar bold, comprehensive, and courageous vision to convince American voters that its return to power offers more than a patchwork of reforms for dysfunctional institutions.
—
Wendell Wallach,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
In the fifth century CE, the western half of the Roman Empire disintegrated into a patchwork of new kingdoms and new rulers.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Towering redwoods crowd the ridgelines; the valley floor unrolls in a patchwork of vineyards, apple orchards and small farming towns.
—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
The Democratic Party will need to embrace a similar bold, comprehensive, and courageous vision to convince American voters that its return to power offers more than a patchwork of reforms for dysfunctional institutions.
—
Wendell Wallach,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
In the fifth century CE, the western half of the Roman Empire disintegrated into a patchwork of new kingdoms and new rulers.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 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 5 Jul. 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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