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

Aside from trade school, students can also pursue apprenticeships, career-training programs, boot camps, industry certifications, and occupational licenses. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025

The recruits arrive at culinary boot camp to face a baseline challenge designed to expose just how dire (or surprisingly decent) their cooking abilities really are. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025

The role demanded a medical boot camp and mastery of unfamiliar jargon. —Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 18 Dec. 2025

There are four more three-week boot camps planned for 2026. —Arkansas Online, 18 Dec. 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