botch

[ boch ]

See synonyms for: botch botched botcher on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to spoil by poor work; bungle (often followed by up): He botched up the job thoroughly.
to do or say in a bungling manner.

to mend or patch in a clumsy manner.

noun

a clumsy or poor piece of work; bungle: He made a complete botch of his first attempt at baking.
a clumsily added part or patch.

a disorderly or confused combination.

Origin of botch

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bocchen “to patch up”; perhaps to be identified with bocchen “to swell up, bulge” (verbal derivative of bocche botch²), though sense development unclear

Other words for botch

1	ruin, mismanage; muff, butcher, flub

See synonyms for botch on Thesaurus.com

Other words from botch

botch·er, noun
botch·er·y, noun

Words Nearby botch

Other definitions for botch (2 of 2)

botch²

[ boch ]

noun

a swelling on the skin; a boil.
an eruptive disease.

Origin of botch

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bocche, botch(e), from Old North French boche, dialectal variant of Old French, Middle French boce boss²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use botch in a sentence

This change also aligns AdSense with Ad Manager and AdMob, botch of which already operate under a first-price auction model.
Google’s new policy means it literally won’t pay to deny climate change; Monday’s daily brief | George Nguyen | October 11, 2021 | Search Engine Land
And if you don't botch the interview, you're pretty much in.
The Secret Speakeasies of Buenos Aires | Jeff Campagna | February 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If you don't botch the questionnaire, you are summoned for a one-on-one interview with Pierre.
The Secret Speakeasies of Buenos Aires | Jeff Campagna | February 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
If you don't botch the email, Pierre will send you a questionnaire-style application form.
The Secret Speakeasies of Buenos Aires | Jeff Campagna | February 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He'd botch it, as he's botched everything foreign-policy related in this campaign.
Does Bibi Have the American People Hypnotized or Something? | Michael Tomasky | September 17, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

I knowed twas botch, without lookin, for it couldnt be nothin else.
Every Man for Himself | Norman Duncan
When botch thunkwhen he got hard at ittwould give you the shivers.
Every Man for Himself | Norman Duncan
They wasnt no sea nor shore for botch no more; they wasnt no earth, no heavens.
Every Man for Himself | Norman Duncan
botch-work and bungling are inexcusable, as well in writing as in the transaction of business.
Burroughs' Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 | Barkham Burroughs
I am at present here to botch up a piece of work, which was originally well imagined but badly executed.
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. IX | Various

British Dictionary definitions for botch

botch

/ (bɒtʃ) /

verb(tr often foll by up)

to spoil through clumsiness or ineptitude
to repair badly or clumsily

noun

Also called: botch-up a badly done piece of work or repair (esp in the phrase make a botch of (something))

Origin of botch

C14: of unknown origin

Derived forms of botch

botcher, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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