boot camp

Definition of boot camp

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 Until now, women have exclusively attended boot camp at Perris Island, S.C. — Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, "2020 a year of travails, tragedy for San Diego military community," 30 Dec. 2020 Joining the Marine Corps at 17 years old, Livingston endured a tough boot camp, and was a reconnaissance Marine for six years. — Cameron Fields, cleveland, "Marine, Army vet Sam Livingston always ready to do the work: November Homegrown Hero," 6 Dec. 2020 Remembering his own boot camp–style upbringing (and the physical rigors of the Royal Naval College as a thirteen-year-old cadet, complete with cold baths and floggings), George VI wanted something different for his beloved daughters. — Bryan Kozlowski, Glamour, "The Queen’s Fitness Routine Involves Weight Training With a Crown," 9 Nov. 2020 From Friday evening through the following morning, the program's itinerary more closely resembles boot camp than your typical college football weekend: The Trojans will be in their rooms Friday night by 7:15, followed by lights out at 9:30. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, "Better late than never, the Pac-12 joins the race for the College Football Playoff," 5 Nov. 2020 After the Corvette experience, writing on Ford was boot camp. — Bruce Mccall, The New Yorker, "My Life in Cars," 12 Dec. 2020 What better way to get ready for a Thanksgiving dinner than a 45-minute boot camp-style workout ahead of time? — Gary Curreri, sun-sentinel.com, "Slash holds SHRED workout on Thanksgiving," 4 Dec. 2020 Yetunde still finds time for Italian lessons — as well as her outdoor boot camp and ballet classes. — New York Times, "A Sustainable Beauty Brand Inspired by the French Countryside," 2 Dec. 2020 Life at home was something of a journalistic boot camp. — New York Times, "Robert Sam Anson, ‘Bare-Knuckled’ Magazine Writer, Dies at 75," 6 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'boot camp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.