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
Automakers are promising more robotaxis and higher levels of autonomous driving features in passenger vehicles this year, but they’ll be faced with obstacles around safety concerns, affordability and a patchwork of state regulations.
—
Detroit News, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
This growth unlocked new markets and capabilities but created a patchwork of operations:
Siloed Divisions: Multiple systems, processes and mid-level structures operating independently.
—Russell P. Reeder, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Since invading Ukraine, Putin has regularly invoked old arguments about Russia’s imperial role in the world, yet his references amount to a mercenary patchwork.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
The remaining members of this patchwork crew will have to keep working through their own backlogs.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patchwork
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Detroit News, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
This growth unlocked new markets and capabilities but created a patchwork of operations:
Siloed Divisions: Multiple systems, processes and mid-level structures operating independently.
—Russell P. Reeder, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Since invading Ukraine, Putin has regularly invoked old arguments about Russia’s imperial role in the world, yet his references amount to a mercenary patchwork.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
The remaining members of this patchwork crew will have to keep working through their own backlogs.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 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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