containment

noun

con·​tain·​ment kən-ˈtān-mənt How to pronounce containment (audio)
1
: the act, process, or means of keeping something within limits
the containment of health costs
2
: the policy, process, or result of preventing the expansion of a hostile power or ideology

Examples of containment in a Sentence

The company's hazardous waste containment plan is being reviewed. The government needs to adopt a containment strategy.
Recent Examples on the Web Flu is a tricky, unstable virus that has eluded lasting containment since the first vaccine against it was released in 1945. Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 10 Nov. 2023 At least 15 additional structures are threatened by the blaze, which had 0% containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2023 The wildfire has burned at least 9,500 acres near Medical Lake, Washington, with 0% containment, officials said. Mitchell McCluskey, CNN, 19 Aug. 2023 And yet for all our sakes, containment must be possible. Mustafa Suleyman, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2023 Edgar spent three days and two nights on the fire line, long enough for the containment effort to succeed. Alexander Sammon, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023 Equally unclear is the end game for Netanyahu — with his Gaza containment strategy in ruins, some are calling for a full reoccupation of the territory. Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2023 This is how an infectious disease containment strategy should work. WIRED, 22 Sep. 2023 Many argue that with a track record like this, the United States ought to dust off the containment playbook and Finish reading this article for free. John Mueller, Foreign Affairs, 21 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'containment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

contain + -ment

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of containment was in 1655

Dictionary Entries Near containment

Cite this Entry

“Containment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/containment. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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