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

There is no update on the containment of the fire and its cause has not yet been determined. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025

Each glowing pour represents something more than containment. —New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2025

In this moment, left-wingers increasingly seem to have realized that the answer to modern trolls surfing debate formats to virality isn’t dissociation and containment but to get in the ring and fight back. —Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025

Fire officials say containment was their top priority, given how easily sparks could have jumped to additional houses. —Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 30 Nov. 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