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

As part of this designation, Washington should establish a coordinating council for the biotechnology sector that includes DNA synthesis providers, AI model developers, genomic data platforms, cloud lab operators, and high-containment laboratories. — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Use the interactive map below to track current wildfire activity across Florida, including real-time locations, acreage burned, and containment status. — David Schutz, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026

Overnight, firefighters worked to increase containment on the southern end of the fire along Partington Ridge toward Highway 1 and cut off the fire's southeastern spread, the Forest Service said in a morning update. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

The remote area lacks infrastructure, making the salvage and containment more challenging and requiring more safety measures, Keskes said. — ABC News, 13 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