glamping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1
UK/ˈɡlæmp.ɪŋ/US/ˈɡlæmp.ɪŋ/

Informal, trendy, lifestyle marketing, travel writing.

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “glamping” mean?

A form of camping that offers more luxurious amenities and facilities than traditional camping, often in permanent structures.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A form of camping that offers more luxurious amenities and facilities than traditional camping, often in permanent structures.

A portmanteau of 'glamorous' and 'camping'. Refers to a leisure activity where the experience of being outdoors or in a remote location is combined with the comfort, convenience, and style of a hotel or boutique accommodation. It is often associated with unique, aesthetically pleasing shelters like yurts, safari tents, or treehouses.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The concept is equally understood and used in both varieties. Spelling is identical.

Connotations

Connotes a modern, aspirational, and sometimes affluent form of outdoor leisure. In the UK, it may be strongly associated with holiday parks and festivals. In the US, it may have stronger connotations of nature retreats and 'glamping sites' in national park areas.

Frequency

Common in both varieties, especially in travel, lifestyle, and real estate contexts. Its frequency has grown significantly in the 21st century.

Grammar

How to Use “glamping” in a Sentence

[We/They/She] went glamping in [location].[Noun] offers glamping.We're planning a glamping [holiday/weekend].

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
go glampingglamping siteglamping holidayluxury glampingglamping tent
medium
glamping experienceglamping weekendglamping podsfamily glampingsafari glamping
weak
glamping adventureglamping retreateco glampingglamping resortbook glamping

Examples

Examples of “glamping” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • They decided to go glamping in the Lake District this summer.
  • We're glamping at a festival, not in a muddy field.

American English

  • She wants to go glamping in Montana instead of backpacking.
  • They spent the weekend glamping in the redwoods.

adverb

British English

  • Not applicable for standard use.

American English

  • Not applicable for standard use.

adjective

British English

  • They booked a glamping pod with a hot tub.
  • The festival has a dedicated glamping village.

American English

  • We found a great glamping site near the canyon.
  • They offer glamping accommodations with king-sized beds.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in tourism marketing, hospitality investment, and lifestyle brand descriptions.

Academic

Rare; might appear in sociological or tourism studies on leisure trends.

Everyday

Common in conversations about holiday plans, festivals, and weekend getaways.

Technical

Not applicable in most technical fields.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “glamping”

Strong

glamorous camping

Neutral

luxury campingboutique campingcomfort camping

Weak

posh campingupscale camping

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “glamping”

wild campingbackpackingroughing it

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “glamping”

  • Using it as a verb for general dressing up (e.g., 'She was glamping for the party' – incorrect).
  • Confusing it with any form of comfortable outdoor accommodation that isn't specifically designed as a luxurious, stylized alternative to camping.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Not exactly. While often more costly, the defining feature is the intentional provision of luxurious, hotel-style amenities (proper beds, electricity, chic decor) within an outdoor/nature setting. It's about the blend of style and comfort with a natural backdrop.

Typically, no. Glamping usually refers to pre-arranged, often permanent or semi-permanent accommodations provided by a site. Bringing a very nice tent yourself would just be 'comfortable camping'. The term is tied to a service or a specifically designed experience.

The term appeared in the UK around 2005 and gained widespread popularity in the late 2000s and 2010s, coinciding with the rise of experiential travel and 'instagrammable' holidays. It was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016.

This is a point of debate. Traditional camping purists often do not consider glamping to be 'real' camping, as it minimizes the self-reliance, simplicity, and direct engagement with nature that defines traditional camping. Proponents see it as a distinct, valid form of outdoor leisure.

A form of camping that offers more luxurious amenities and facilities than traditional camping, often in permanent structures.

Glamping is usually informal, trendy, lifestyle marketing, travel writing. in register.

Glamping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡlæmp.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡlæmp.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • It's not camping, it's glamping.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: GLAMorous camPING = GLAMPING. You bring the GLAM to your camping trip.

Conceptual Metaphor

CAMPING IS A LUXURY HOTEL. The wilderness is conceptualized as a five-star resort.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
For our anniversary, we wanted an outdoor experience but without the hassle, so we opted for at a vineyard.
Multiple Choice

What is the key conceptual difference between glamping and traditional camping?