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
Example Sentences
The company's hazardous waste containment plan is being reviewed. The government needs to adopt a containment strategy.
Recent Examples on the Web The fire's containment dropped to 20% Wednesday as its size increased by more than 12 square miles in the Foresthill area. 
Ashley R. Williams, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 The fire’s size grew another 8,200 acres overnight to a total of 58,544 acres as of Wednesday morning, and containment dropped 5% to 20%. Jessica Flores, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Sep. 2022 Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings as containment grew to 59% with just under 2 square miles burned. Julie Watson And John Antczak, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022 In any case, containment with the current tools isn’t a guarantee. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2022 Crews were keeping an eye on the fire burning near the California-Oregon border as containment increased to 30% Friday night. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2022 The designation will free up emergency funds and lift some bureaucratic hurdles, but many experts fear containment may no longer be possible. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Today, containment is virtually impossible, even if Xi missed the memo. William Pesek, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 That fire was at 6,541 acres and 5% containment, with 690 structures threatened and 332 people evacuated. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2022 See More
Ashley R. Williams, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 The fire’s size grew another 8,200 acres overnight to a total of 58,544 acres as of Wednesday morning, and containment dropped 5% to 20%. Jessica Flores, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Sep. 2022 Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings as containment grew to 59% with just under 2 square miles burned. Julie Watson And John Antczak, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022 In any case, containment with the current tools isn’t a guarantee. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2022 Crews were keeping an eye on the fire burning near the California-Oregon border as containment increased to 30% Friday night. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2022 The designation will free up emergency funds and lift some bureaucratic hurdles, but many experts fear containment may no longer be possible. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Today, containment is virtually impossible, even if Xi missed the memo. William Pesek, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 That fire was at 6,541 acres and 5% containment, with 690 structures threatened and 332 people evacuated. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
contain + -ment
First Known Use
1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1
containment
noun
as in isolation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- isolation
- segregation
- confinement
- restraint
- constraint
- restriction
- limitation
- circumscription
- rein
- stint