camping
/ˈkæmpɪŋ/
Very CommonStaying in one spot and waiting for enemies to walk into your crosshairs instead of moving around the map.
Whether camping is legitimate strategy or cheap play depends entirely on who you ask. Defenders say it is positional awareness. Attackers say it is for people who cannot aim while moving. Both are right.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | this dude has been camping that same corner for the entire match | One player has not moved from their spot for the whole game. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | is it camping if you are literally a sniper? that's what snipers do | Holding a position as a sniper is the class's intended playstyle, not camping. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | killcam showed him just staring at a doorway for 30 seconds waiting. actual camper. | The replay showed the killer was sitting still for a long time waiting for someone to appear. | youtube, 2023 |
| 04 | every cod game has that one building where three people camp with claymores | In every Call of Duty match there is a building where campers set up traps and wait. | reddit, 2024 |
Use it when
- A player is sitting in one corner or spot waiting to ambush anyone who walks by.
- Someone keeps killing you from the same position over and over.
- You want to describe a defensive, stationary playstyle.
Do not use it when
- A sniper is holding a sight line. That's their role, not camping.
- Someone is defending an objective. Holding the point is not camping.
Variations and related forms
Camping vs griefing
camping
Camping is a legitimate (if frustrating) strategy to get kills by holding a strong position.
griefing
Griefing is intentionally sabotaging the game with no strategic goal except ruining fun.
Origin and context
One of the oldest gaming insults, dating back to early FPS games like Quake and Counter-Strike in the late 1990s. The term references literally setting up camp in one location like a tent in the woods. It has been a debate topic in every shooter community since online multiplayer began.
- First seen
- late-1990s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/camping