containment etymology

Etymology

  • From Middle French contenement, from contenir (“to contain”) + -ment (“-ment”).
  • Ultimately from Latin continere (“to hold together, to enclose”).

Meaning

  • The act or state of containing or being contained.
  • The area or space within which something is contained.
  • A structure or facility designed to prevent the escape or spread of something, especially a hazardous substance or disease.

Origin

The concept of containment originated in the field of infectious disease control in the early 20th century. The term was first used in a medical context in 1911 to describe measures taken to prevent the spread of a disease from an infected person or area to the general population.

In the 1950s, the term containment was adopted by the United States government to describe its foreign policy strategy during the Cold War. This strategy aimed to prevent the spread of communism from Soviet-controlled countries to other parts of the world.

The term containment has since been used in a variety of contexts, including:

  • Environmental protection: Measures taken to prevent the release of hazardous substances into the environment.
  • Computer security: Measures taken to prevent the unauthorized access to or modification of computer systems and data.
  • Social control: Measures taken to prevent or suppress dissent or disruptive behavior.

containment relate terms

  • contain

    Etymology Latin continere Late Latin contēnere Meaning To hold or enclose s

  • amazement

    Etymology of Amazement The word amazement has its roots in Old French derived from t

  • betterment

    Etymology The word betterment is derived from the Old English betrian meaning to ma

  • merriment

    Etymology Middle English mirthe from Old English myrþ Cognates with other Germanic la

  • clam

    Etymology The word clam likely derives from the Middle English word clamm meaning t

  • restraint

    Etymology Old French restraint 13th century from Latin restrictiō restrictiōnis

  • system

    Etymology The word system comes from the Late Latin systema which is derived from t

  • policy

    Etymology The word policy originates from the Latin word polyptycha which means fol

  • Thursday

    Etymology The word Thursday comes from the Old English word Þūnresdæg which means

  • cherry

    Etymology The word cherry comes from the Middle English word cheri which is derived

  • faithful

    Etymology The word faithful is derived from the Old French word fealté which itself

  • enemy

    Etymology The word enemy comes from the Old French word ennemi which in turn is der