boot camp

noun

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

Healthy, Fit & Fun fitness classes also include sunset yoga and a high-intensity boot camp. — BostonGlobe.com, "Summer guide: Things to do around Boston and Cambridge," 2 June 2018 The extensive park system also has active adult programming for people ages 55 and older, water aerobics and free outdoor fitness classes such as yoga, boot camps and Zumba. — Julie Landry Laviolette, miamiherald, "Do a dance. Play in the pool. Here’s how to keep fit as you age. | Miami Herald," 26 Mar. 2018 The boot camp is allowing students to reach higher, expand their horizons, dream big. — Emily Himes, miamiherald, "It's a Google and Amazon world. And these Miami kids are taking this step to work there," 10 July 2018 Christopher Dowd, who joined the Army National Guard, was already several days into boot camp at Fort Benning, Georgia. — Steven Goode, Courant Community, "Windsor High School Graduates Told To 'Take Care Of Others'," 14 June 2018 Holiday went through Marine Corps boot camp at the age of 19 in 1943 and joined a group of Native Americans who used their native language to develop the communication code for the U.S. military in World War 2 that proved to be uncrackable. — Travis Fedschun, Fox News, "Navajo Code Talker Samuel Tom Holiday dies at age 94," 12 June 2018 In response, the military layered on additional security clearances for recruits to pass before heading to boot camp. — Washington Post, "Immigrant PhD candidate rocked by sudden US Army discharge," 6 July 2018 In response, the military layered on additional security clearances for recruits to pass before heading to boot camp. — BostonGlobe.com, "Immigrant grad student shocked by abrupt Army discharge," 6 July 2018 In response, the military layered on additional security clearances for recruits to pass before heading to boot camp. — CBS News, "U.S. Army abruptly discharging immigrant recruits: AP," 6 July 2018

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.

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5 Oct 2018

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The first known use of boot camp was in 1916

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More Definitions for boot camp

boot camp

noun

English Language Learners Definition of boot camp

: a camp where people who have recently joined the U.S. Army, Navy, or Marine Corps receive their basic training

: a short but very difficult training program : a program or situation that helps people become much better at doing something in a short period of time

See the full definition for boot camp in the English Language Learners Dictionary