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

Boulder Fire Rescue said the fire has a moderate rate of spread and no containment update is available at this time. —Christa Swanson, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026

Aerospace and defense company Ursa Major aims to bring greater containment and control to hypersonic flight with its HAVOC missile – a medium-range vehicle capable of flying in excess of Mach 5, yet designed for low cost and high-volume production. —New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2026

Some express skepticism about the underlying premise that amenities and humanizing conditions actually reduce recidivism, viewing stricter punishment and containment as more effective deterrents. —Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026

And needing to rely so much on help in the first place is a ripple effect of lackluster 1-on-1 containment. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 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