containment

UK: /kənˈteɪnmənt/ US: /kənˈteɪnmənt/ ,(kən tān′mənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•tain•ment /kənˈteɪnmənt/  n. [uncountable]

1. the policy of holding back the spread of another country's power or influence.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•tain•ment  (kən tān′mənt), n. 

1. the act or condition of containing.
2. Government an act or policy of restricting the territorial growth or ideological influence of another, esp. a hostile nation.
3. Physics, Energy (in a nuclear power plant) an enclosure completely surrounding a nuclear reactor, designed to prevent the release of radioactive material in the event of an accident.

• contain + -ment 1645–55

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

containment / kənˈteɪnmənt/ noun

1. the act or condition of containing, esp of restraining the ideological or political power of a hostile country or the operations of a hostile military force