botch

1 of 3

verb

ˈbäch How to pronounce botch (audio)
botched; botching; botches
Synonyms of botchnext

transitive verb

1
: to foul up hopelessly
—often used with up
2
: to put together in a makeshift way
botcher noun

botch

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: something that is botched : mess
2
: patchwork, hodgepodge
botchy
ˈbä-chē How to pronounce botch (audio)
adjective

botch

3 of 3

noun (2)

: an inflammatory sore

Synonyms

Verb

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of botch in a Sentence

Verb The store botched the order—I received only half the books I paid for. They clearly botched the investigation. Noun (1) this police procedural is basically a botch of plot elements stolen from other (and better) novels
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Read: America is botching measles The administration’s actions all emphasize personal freedom. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2025 Oklahoma's approach to acquiring and administering lethal drugs has come under serious scrutiny in recent years, with the state corrections office previously accused of botching procedures inside the execution chamber and then facing an extensive public safety probe. — CBS News, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
Braden Mann’s botch of the opening kickoff, Luke McCaffrey’s 47-yard return and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.’s unnecessary roughness penalty embodied the sloppy play that’s recently been awarding opponents advantageous field position. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024 Lastly, there was the botch job of trading away Jake Guentzel at the deadline last season. — Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for botch

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bocchen

Noun (2)

Middle English boche, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *bottia boss

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of botch was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing botch

Rhymes for botch

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Browse Nearby Words

botch
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Cite this Entry

“Botch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/botch. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

botch

1 of 2 verb
ˈbäch How to pronounce botch (audio)
: to make or do something in a clumsy or unskillful way : spoil, bungle

botch

2 of 2 noun
: a botched job : mess
botchy
-ē
adjective

Medical Definition

botch

noun
ˈbäch How to pronounce botch (audio)
: an inflammatory sore

More from Merriam-Webster on botch

Nglish: Translation of botch for Spanish Speakers

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