boot camp

noun

Synonyms of boot campnext
1
: a navy or marine corps camp for basic training
2
: a disciplinary facility or program in which young offenders are forced to participate in a rigidly structured routine
3
: a place or undertaking that resembles a military boot camp especially by requiring one to endure intensive training or initiation
Nowadays, the more talented players view their college years as necessary boot camp to prepare them for the riches waiting for them in pro football.Anson Mount
These youngsters are put through what amounts to a boot camp of courses in music notation, basic harmony and ear-training.Smithsonian

Examples of boot camp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Madonna's biopic was officially announced in 2020, followed by a prolonged casting process that involved putting actresses — including Florence Pugh and Alexa Demie — through a daunting singing-and-dancing boot camp. Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 Week-long villa stays in Italy and multi-day boot camps at the CIA are designed for full immersion. Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2026 That’s why many of the teams have set themselves up in temporary training camps across the continent, almost like boot camps to acclimatize the players to extreme conditions. Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 June 2026 The film stars Alan Ritchson, who is likely to return for the sequel, and follows the final recruits of a grueling Special Ops boot camp who encounter a mysterious deadly force. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for boot camp

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boot camp was in 1916

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Cite this Entry

“Boot camp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boot%20camp. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

boot camp

noun
: a camp where recently enlisted members of the Navy or Marine Corps receive their basic training

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