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

On Tuesday, the BLS defended its approach in a Q&A document published to its website, arguing that the agency had no better way to handle a challenging patchwork of missing data.

From The Wall Street Journal

What emerged in the ensuing years is a patchwork of conflicting appellate court decisions, which the Supreme Court attempted to resolve Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

Many schools that had phone-free policies left enforcement to the teachers, leading to a patchwork of practices.

From The Wall Street Journal

The domains of the Habsburgs formed a political and cultural patchwork that would come under increasing strain.

From The Wall Street Journal

Though the resulting story can seem cobbled together, with obvious seams where oddments have been joined, its bright patchwork of anecdotes acquires its own strange logic.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• jumble
• mishmash
• plaid
• tartan