patchwork

American  

[pach-wurk] / ˈpætʃˌwɜrk /

noun

1. something made up of an incongruous variety of pieces or parts; hodgepodge.

   a patchwork of verse forms.

   Synonyms:

   mélange, jumble, medley

2. work made of pieces of cloth or leather of various colors or shapes sewed together, used especially for covering quilts, cushions, etc.

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adjective

1. resembling a patchwork, especially in being makeshift, irregular, or improvised.

   a patchwork policy of dispensing foreign aid.

verb (used with object)

1. to make as patchwork.

   She specializes in patchworking skirts.

2. to assemble or connect in making patchwork.

   to patchwork neckties into bedspreads.

patchwork British  

/ ˈpætʃˌwɜːk /

noun

1. needlework done by sewing pieces of different materials together

2. something, such as a theory, made up of various parts

   a patchwork of cribbed ideas

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Other Word Forms

• patchworky
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of patchwork

First recorded in 1685–95; patch ¹ + work

Example Sentences

Lewis Capaldi got a hero's welcome as he played the Pyramid Stage in a "TBA" slot; and the mysterious band billed as Patchwork were, to no-one's surprise, Pulp.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2025

The Pyramid Stage also boasts another surprise set, from a band billed only as Patchwork.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

The only thing is, there's no band called Patchwork.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2025

Ms. Barrada’s sheepadoodle, Patchwork, greeted the two gallerists while she showed them some of Bettina’s personal effects — an old Olympia typewriter, Xerox portfolios.

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2024

"I look patchwork, and I am patchwork, and no one but a blind owl could ever doubt that I'm the Patchwork Girl."

From The Lost Princess of Oz by Neill, John R. (John Rea)

Related Words

• jumble
• mishmash
• plaid
• tartan