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

Fire containment Interpreting what 84% containment means The percentage indicates how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Meanwhile, the White Sage Fire burning farther north on the Kaibab Plateau has remained at 95% containment. —Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 14 Aug. 2025

At this time, there is no information on the containment of the fire and the cause of it remains undetermined. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2025

As of July 31st, a red flag warning was in effect for central and southern Utah as a result on ongoing low humidity and breezy weather, which can interfere with containment efforts. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025

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