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

Like Trazzi, Reichstadter’s concerns are existential — an AI system that could one day break containment and usher in unknown horrors on humankind. —Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026

The window for containment isn’t just smaller — it may already be closed. —Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026

This containment is partly the result of one of the Cold War’s unexpected environmental success stories. —Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 24 Mar. 2026

As of Monday morning, the 24 fire near Fort Carson had charred 7,385 acres in Fremont and El Paso counties with no containment, according to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 23 Mar. 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