Word
Definition
n. a piece of cloth made by sewing many different small pieces of fabric together. You can also use this word to describe anything made of many different parts that do not always match.
n. a fabric construction created by sewing together small pieces of varied materials; by extension, any collection of diverse and potentially mismatched elements. Often used metaphorically to describe systems or landscapes.
Examples
“My grandmother made a beautiful patchwork quilt.”
“The city's architecture is a patchwork of modern glass towers and ancient stone churches.”
“The current legal framework is a confusing patchwork of local and national regulations that often contradict one another, making compliance difficult for small businesses.”
Examples
simple
“My grandmother made a beautiful patchwork quilt.”
contextual
“The city's architecture is a patchwork of modern glass towers and ancient stone churches.”
complex
“The current legal framework is a confusing patchwork of local and national regulations that often contradict one another, making compliance difficult for small businesses.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the craft or style; countable when referring to a specific physical object or a metaphorical collection.
Real-World Examples
“Our British history needs to reflect our mother tongue, which is a patchwork of words gathered from the different tribes and peoples who’ve made these islands home.” “Over time, this created a patchwork of groves with very different fire histories.” Etymology
From patch + work.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/patchwork
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0