How do you use "Camp" in a sentence?

That outfit is so camp. The movie is pure camp—I love it. She understood the camp assignment.

Camp

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Exaggerated, theatrical, ironic aesthetics; so bad/over-the-top it's good.

夸张的、戏剧化的、讽刺性的美学；夸张到极致反而好看。

Estética exagerada, teatral e irónica; tan exagerado que resulta genial.

大げさで、演劇的で、皮肉な美学。ダサすぎて逆に最高。

과장되고 연극적이며 아이러니한 미학. 너무 과해서 오히려 좋은 것.

'Camp' describes aesthetics that are deliberately exaggerated, theatrical, or ironic. 'That's so camp' = it's fabulously over-the-top. Entered mainstream through the 2019 Met Gala theme 'Camp: Notes on Fashion.'

「Camp」形容故意夸张、戏剧化或讽刺的美学风格。「That's so camp」＝华丽地over-the-top。通过2019年Met Gala主题「Camp: Notes on Fashion」进入主流。

«Camp» describe una estética deliberadamente exagerada, teatral o irónica. «That's so camp» = es fabulosamente excesivo. Entró en la cultura popular con el tema de la Met Gala 2019 «Camp: Notes on Fashion».

「Camp」は意図的に大げさで、演劇的、または皮肉な美学を表す。「That's so camp」＝素晴らしくオーバーザトップ。2019年のメットガラのテーマ「Camp: Notes on Fashion」で主流に広まった。

'Camp'는 의도적으로 과장되고, 연극적이거나, 아이러니한 미학을 나타낸다. 'That's so camp' = 화려하게 과한 것. 2019년 멧 갈라의 테마 'Camp: Notes on Fashion'을 통해 주류에 진입했다.

Examples

That outfit is so camp.
那套衣服太camp了
Ese outfit es muy camp
あの衣装はめちゃくちゃキャンプだ
그 의상 완전 캠프야.
The movie is pure camp—I love it.
这部电影纯粹是camp——我爱死了
La peli es puro camp, me encanta
あの映画は完全にキャンプ——大好き
그 영화는 순수 캠프야—너무 좋아.
She understood the camp assignment.
她理解了camp的精髓
Entendió a la perfección el estilo camp
彼女はキャンプの課題を理解していた
그녀는 캠프의 과제를 이해했어.

Pronunciation

/kæmp/

Usage Guide

Context: aesthetics, fashion, entertainment

Tone: appreciative, knowing

✓ Do Say

Camp
camp风格
camp
キャンプ
캠프
Campy
camp的
camp
キャンピー
캠피
So camp
太camp了
muy camp
めっちゃキャンプ
완전 캠프
High camp
高级camp
camp de alto nivel
ハイキャンプ
하이 캠프

Common Mistakes

Not just 'bad'—intentionally theatrical and self-aware

Origin & History

From Susan Sontag's 1964 essay 'Notes on Camp.' The word existed in gay slang earlier. Describes an aesthetic of exaggeration and theatricality. The 2019 Met Gala theme brought it mainstream.

Etymology: French se camper (to pose); gay slang from early 20th century

First recorded: Gay slang 1900s, Sontag essay 1964, Met Gala 2019

Cultural Context

Era: 1964 Sontag essay, 2019 mainstream

Generation: All ages, Gen Z revival

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Met Gala 2019; Susan Sontag; Drag culture

Regional notes: American/British, gay culture origin.

Story & Trivia

When the Met Gala announced 'Camp: Notes on Fashion' as its 2019 theme, many guests missed the point. True camp—intentional, self-aware excess—proved harder to execute than simply wearing something extravagant.

Variations

CampCampyHigh camp