hotbed

noun

hot·​bed ˈhät-ˌbed How to pronounce hotbed (audio)
1
: a bed of soil enclosed in glass, heated especially by fermenting manure, and used for forcing or for raising seedlings
2
: an environment that favors rapid growth or development
a hotbed of activity

Examples of hotbed in a Sentence

a hotbed of political unrest prerevolutionary Boston was viewed as a hotbed of treason by the British
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.
Dehumidify the Bathroom Bathrooms are hotbeds of moisture and humidity. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025 Loading your audio article The Trump Administration has subpoenaed personal information of hundreds of UC Berkeley professors who signed petitions during escalating Israel-Hamas campus protests to bolster its case that college campuses are hotbeds of antisemitism and not worthy of federal funding. Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025 Mines, factories, and other industrial-era workplaces were hotbeds of danger. Allie Volpe, Vox, 3 Apr. 2025 Ripa's cell phone is, given recent developments, a hotbed of spicy activity in other ways, as the daytime TV icon rang in the holiday season by showing the Live audience a sneak peek at a nearly nude photo of Consuelos on her phone in November 2024. EW.com, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hotbed

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hotbed was in 1626

Cite this Entry

“Hotbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbed. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

hotbed

noun
hot·​bed ˈhät-ˌbed How to pronounce hotbed (audio)
1
: a heated bed of soil enclosed in glass and used for growing seedlings
2
: an environment that favors rapid growth or development
a hotbed of innovation

More from Merriam-Webster on hotbed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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