bootcamp
bootcamp Lexical Profile
bootcamp Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A correctional facility for young offenders modeled on military basic training, emphasizing strict discipline, physical exercise, and structured routines.
"The judge offered the first-time offender a placement in a juvenile bootcamp as an alternative to prison."
North American A military training camp for new recruits, characterized by strict discipline and demanding physical conditioning.
"The recruits woke up before dawn every morning during their first month at bootcamp."
A short, intensive, and rigorous course of training or instruction, especially in computer programming, professional skills, or physical fitness.
"She enrolled in a twelve-week coding bootcamp to transition into software engineering."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often spelled as the open compound "boot camp" in traditional military contexts, whereas the closed compound "bootcamp" is especially common for intensive technical, educational, and fitness programs.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th-century United States Navy and Marine Corps, from "boot" (naval slang for a new recruit, after the leggings worn by sailors) and "camp".