What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hothouse
Example
The orchids are grown in a hothouse to ensure they receive the right amount of heat and humidity. [hothouse: noun]
Example
The company's sales department is a hothouse of competition and pressure. [hothouse: adjective]
hotbed
Example
The city became a hotbed of creativity during the Renaissance. [hotbed: noun]
Example
The neighborhood was a hotbed of criminal activity in the 1990s. [hotbed: noun]
Example
The humid weather created a hotbed for mosquitoes to breed. [hotbed: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hotbed is more commonly used than hothouse in everyday language. Hotbed is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hothouse is less common and typically used in the context of plant growth.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hothouse and hotbed?
Both hothouse and hotbed are relatively informal words and can be used in casual conversation. However, hothouse may be slightly more formal due to its association with plant cultivation and scientific terminology.
