Learn English – What does “campy” mean

etymologymeaning

I was reading this answer to another question and came across the word campy (towards the end of the answer). I’ve definitely seen it used before to describe science fiction movies and shows but have never had a good definition of it. What does it mean and where does it come from?

Best Answer

From the Urban Dictionary:

  1. “Camp” n. or “Campy” adj. refers to intentionally exaggerated thematic or genre elements, especially in television and motion picture mediums. “Camp” style willfully over-emphasizes certain elements of the genre or theme, creating an almost self-satirical milieu. Some of the most popular examples include the James Bond films (exaggeration of espionage activities) and the original Batman series starring Adam West.
  2. Being so extreme that it has an amusing and perversely sophisticated appeal.
  3. adj. overacted or exaggerated (sometimes purposely),
Related Topic