biocontainment

noun

bio·​con·​tain·​ment ˌbī-ō-kən-ˈtān-mənt 

: the containment of extremely pathogenic organisms (such as viruses) usually by isolation in secure facilities to prevent their accidental release especially during research

Examples of biocontainment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lab has not yet tested the 16 people in the Nebraska biocontainment unit but Iwen expects to do so soon. — Emily Mullin, Wired News, 13 May 2026

That person is staying in biocontainment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026

They were managed separately from other passengers during transport using appropriate biocontainment measures. — Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026

The quarantine and biocontainment units in Omaha are specialized facilities created to monitor people exposed to serious illnesses. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 15 May 2026

In the mid-Atlantic region, that would likely be the NIH Clinical Center or the University of Maryland's biocontainment unit. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biocontainment

• ascertainment
• entertainment
• arraignment
• attainment
• containment
• entrainment
• sustainment

Medical Definition

biocontainment

noun

bio·​con·​tain·​ment -kən-ˈtān-mənt 

: the containment of extremely pathogenic organisms (such as viruses) usually by isolation in secure facilities to prevent their accidental release especially during research

—often used before another noun

Before we can leave the biocontainment area, we must remove our borrowed coveralls and shower thoroughly.

—Glenn Zorpette, Scientific American