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
Synonyms
- agglomerate
- agglomeration
- alphabet soup
- assortment
- botch
- clutter
- collage
- crazy quilt
- farrago
- gallimaufry
- grab bag
- gumbo
- hash
- hodgepodge
- hotchpotch
- jambalaya
- jumble
- jungle
- litter
- macédoine
- medley
- mélange
- menagerie
- miscellanea
- miscellany
- mishmash
- mixed bag
- montage
- motley
- muddle
- olio
- olla podrida
- omnium-gatherum
- pastiche
- patchwork quilt
- potpourri
- ragbag
- ragout
- rummage
- salad
- salmagundi
- scramble
- shuffle
- smorgasbord
- stew
- tumble
- variety
- welter
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
Gomez wore a long black peacoat and blue jeans for the occasion, while her music-producer partner — who proposed to her in December — opted for a colorful look complete with a light denim jacket, patchwork pants and a button-up shirt.
—
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025
The Free Assembly Spring Collection is filled with timeless options, including polo shirts, patchwork jeans, pleated skirts, and button down tops that can easily be dressed up to the office or a date night or dressed down for trips to the grocery store, beachside walks, or cozy days indoors.
—Alicia Geigel, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2025
Under this model, student aid programs might be shifted to state governments, creating a patchwork system where eligibility and funding levels vary widely.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
The legislation seeks to end a confusing patchwork of policies, often set by individual schools or teachers in Colorado, and improve the students' mental health and learning environment.
—John Frank, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for patchwork 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025
The Free Assembly Spring Collection is filled with timeless options, including polo shirts, patchwork jeans, pleated skirts, and button down tops that can easily be dressed up to the office or a date night or dressed down for trips to the grocery store, beachside walks, or cozy days indoors.
—Alicia Geigel, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2025
Under this model, student aid programs might be shifted to state governments, creating a patchwork system where eligibility and funding levels vary widely.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
The legislation seeks to end a confusing patchwork of policies, often set by individual schools or teachers in Colorado, and improve the students' mental health and learning environment.
—John Frank, Axios, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for patchwork
Dictionary Entries Near patchwork
Cite this Entry
“Patchwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patchwork. Accessed 13 Feb. 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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