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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At this time, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it is still undetermined. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2025 On January 15, during a United Airlines flight from Dulles, Va., to San Francisco, a passenger's cell phone went into thermal runaway and crew contained the fire in a thermal containment bag. Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 Under the new legislation, if an owner fails to follow containment or signage regulations, and the dog attacks someone, the incident would be treated as a third-degree felony. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025 There is currently no information about the containment efforts for the fire and its cause has not yet been determined. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for containment

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Containment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/containment. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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