glamping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, trendy, lifestyle marketing, travel writing.
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
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
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glamping”
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
What is the key conceptual difference between glamping and traditional camping?