containment

noun

con·​tain·​ment kən-ˈtān-mənt 

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

Smoke impacts will depend on daily fire behavior, containment efforts, and shifting wind patterns over the coming days. — James Ward, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

At zero containment and growing, mandatory evacuation orders include neighborhoods of northwest Reno. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026

The Hawk Fire ballooned to cover more than 10,500 acres by late Saturday, with no containment reported, according to state fire officials. — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, in southwestern Palm Beach County, FFS crews responded to a wildfire in a wildlife management area that had burned 350 acres before reaching 85% containment. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

contain + -ment

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for containment

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