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

Over 1,000 young men auditioned, but that number quickly dwindled down to a lucky 20, who found themselves at a boy band boot camp in the selection’s final phase. —Jenna Wang, Peoplemag, 3 Sep. 2024

Wellness-minded travelers will also love the hotel’s indoor-outdoor gym that offers top-of-the-line equipment, yoga classes, and fitness boot camps, as well as wet and dry saunas and a cold plunge. —Outside Online, 29 July 2024

Opening up shorter avenues that are free or less expensive than for-profit boot camps can help. —Olivia Sanchez, USA TODAY, 31 July 2024

This week, the company is running a boot camp to train 100 neurodivergent individuals. —Erica Pandey, Axios, 8 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

boot camp

noun

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