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

The Waters is a sphere of water, with no solid core, kept together by a containment field. — Alix Freckelton, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026

In 2023, to the frustration of cattlemen and officials alike, the flesh-eating fly broke through containment lines in the Darien Gap, a stretch of dense rainforest between Colombia and Panama, and spread north. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

OpenAI later admitted that several of their AI models had broken out of containment and used a zero-day vulnerability to manipulate the open internet. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026

These microscopic ceramic coatings act as individual containment structures that withstand extreme temperatures without melting, eliminating the need for complex, active emergency coolant pumps. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 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