boot camp

noun

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

Along with , Giudice is also on the current season of The show brings celebrities from all walks of life to a special forces boot camp to see who can survive the selection process. —Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025

Models who didn’t make the cut at initial castings have come back after TBFE’s boot camp and gone on to book shows at major fashion weeks. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025

Yes, Cameron finishes boot camp and becomes a Marine. —Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025

Farrell was named an Honor Marine during boot camp and reached the rank of private first class. —Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for boot camp

• decamp
• encamp
• headlamp
• preamp
• revamp
• timestamp
• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp

Kids Definition

boot camp

noun

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