hodgepodge

noun

hodge·​podge ˈhäj-ˌpäj How to pronounce hodgepodge (audio)
: a heterogeneous mixture : jumble
a hodgepodge of styles

Examples of hodgepodge in a Sentence

the exhibit was a hodgepodge of mediocre art, bad art, and really bad art
Recent Examples on the Web The cable channel, currently a hodgepodge of reality shows and reruns, will become an additional platform for the media giant’s sports properties, which include the NBA, the NHL and the NCAA basketball tournament. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The regulations would also require companies to file their disclosures in Form 10-Ks, rather than requiring investors to gather data from a hodgepodge of places including sustainability reports, corporate websites and third-party disclosures. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 Cub Scout Lucien Eigenmann, 10, reflected while assembling a card from a hodgepodge of supplies: white and pink foam hearts, colored markers, soft pompoms and bright stickers with bling. Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2024 Because there’s a hodgepodge of small, single-brand jewelry showrooms located in various corners and hotel rooms of Paris, journalists and most important, retail buyers, typically criss-cross the city in a gruelling six-day marathon searching for jewelry. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The resultant hodgepodge then cultured anywhere from 9-to-11 days before being steamed for dinner time. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Feb. 2024 The oil industry has generally welcomed direct federal regulation on methane, preferring a national standard to a hodgepodge of state rules. Matthew Daly, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2023 Wesley Walls: That team was kind of a hodgepodge of older free agents. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2024 Neither new nor liberal, neoliberalism was an uninteresting hodgepodge of older political philosophies. Yanis Varoufakis, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hodgepodge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

alteration of hotchpotch

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hodgepodge was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near hodgepodge

Cite this Entry

“Hodgepodge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hodgepodge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hodgepodge

noun
hodge·​podge ˈhäj-ˌpäj How to pronounce hodgepodge (audio)
: a confused mixture : jumble
Etymology

an altered form of hotchpotch, from Middle English hochepot "mixed stew," derived from early French hochepot (same meaning), from hochier "to shake" and pot "pot, container"

Word Origin
Hodgepodge and its older form hotchpotch are part of a group of words that rhyme all by themselves. Hobnob and willy-nilly are others. In the case of hodgepodge and hotchpotch, the rhyme is not an accident. These words came to English from early French in the form hochepot. The spelling was changed to make the second half of the word rhyme with the first. In French hochepot was a stew of many foods cooked together in a pot. Perhaps the pot was shaken instead of stirred since hochepot was formed from hochier, meaning "to shake," and pot, which had the same meaning in early French as it does in English now. Before long hotchpotch and hodgepodge were used not just for a mixture of foods cooking in a pot but for any mixture of different things.

Legal Definition

Hodge Podge

noun
ˈhäj-ˌpäj

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