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

All orders have since been lifted after crews announced 100% containment on Saturday afternoon. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026

The Chernobyl site utilizes a dual-layer containment system to manage the remains of reactor unit 4. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026

Despite initial containment measures, oil spread from the dock into the Scheldt River, completely blocking the access route from the port to the North Sea. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2026

It cannot be adequately assessed or treated within brief admissions designed primarily for acute containment. —Liz Koch, STAT, 6 Apr. 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