containment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, often used in political, military, environmental, and technical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “containment” mean?
The action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits.
A policy or strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of a hostile power, influence, or dangerous situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical. The concept gained prominence in 20th-century US foreign policy ('containment policy' during the Cold War).
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of strategy, control, and prevention of escalation. Can have a negative connotation when implying suppression.
Frequency
More frequent in geopolitical and public health discourse than in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “containment” in a Sentence
containment of [threat/problem]containment by [agent/means]containment within [area/limits]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “containment” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The new fire doors are crucial for the containment of smoke and flames.
- The minister defended the government's containment strategy for the protest.
American English
- The city established a containment zone around the chemical spill.
- Foreign policy experts debated the effectiveness of military containment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to controlling costs, risks, or negative publicity.
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, epidemiology, and environmental studies.
Everyday
Most common in news about disease outbreaks, fires, or political crises.
Technical
In engineering, refers to structures designed to hold hazardous materials; in computing, to security isolation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “containment”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “containment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “containment”
- Using 'container' instead of 'containment' (noun vs. action/process). Confusing with 'contentment' (happiness).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Overwhelmingly yes. It is used for threats, dangers, costs, or hostile forces. You wouldn't use it for something positive you want to preserve.
Containment happens after a threat has emerged, aiming to stop it from growing or spreading. Prevention aims to stop it from happening at all.
No, 'containment' is only a noun. The verb is 'to contain'.
Yes, especially in business, public relations, and crisis management, meaning actions taken to limit the negative consequences of an event.
The action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits.
Containment is usually formal, often used in political, military, environmental, and technical contexts. in register.
Containment: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈteɪnmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈteɪnmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A policy of containment”
- “A breach of containment”
- “To keep something in containment”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONTAINER: CONTAINMENT is the process of putting something (like a threat) INTO a container to keep it from getting out.
Conceptual Metaphor
THREAT IS A FLUID/LIQUID (requires a vessel to hold it); STRATEGY IS A CONTAINER.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'containment' LEAST likely to be used?