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
Columbia University, which became a hotbed of protests over the Israel-Hamas war last year, capitulated to a similar list of demands from the Trump administration and ousted its interim president in late March.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025
University poses first big obstacle in administration’s push for change
For the Trump administration, Harvard presents the first major hurdle in its attempt to force change at universities that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism.
—Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Listen to this article The University of Arizona has become a hotbed of women’s basketball activity in recent weeks, with three San Diegans making headlines.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
The gaming industry has always been a hotbed of innovation, but in recent years, AI has taken center stage in shaping how games are developed, marketed and experienced.
—Ying Yang, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
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Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025
University poses first big obstacle in administration’s push for change
For the Trump administration, Harvard presents the first major hurdle in its attempt to force change at universities that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism.
—Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Listen to this article The University of Arizona has become a hotbed of women’s basketball activity in recent weeks, with three San Diegans making headlines.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
The gaming industry has always been a hotbed of innovation, but in recent years, AI has taken center stage in shaping how games are developed, marketed and experienced.
—Ying Yang, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hotbed
Cite this Entry
“Hotbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbed. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hotbed
noun
hot·bed
ˈhät-ˌbed 
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
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