containment

/kənˈteɪnmənt/

//kənˈteɪnmənt// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"containment" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“containment” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #15,592 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#15,592
frequency rank, English
11
letters
17
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The state of being contained.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

containment vs continent
82% similar
containment vs contingent
82% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for containment
PropertyValue
Headwordcontainment
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/kənˈteɪnmənt/
Letters11
Frequency rank#15,592
Misspellings tracked17
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “containment” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). containment lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for containment is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kənˈteɪnmənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #15,592 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 17 likely wrong-spelling variants for containment, with forms such as "ccontainment", "cnotainment", and "conatinment". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "continent", "contingent", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From contain + -ment. The correct English form is containment, spelled C-O-N-T-A-I-N-M-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    The state of being contained.
  2. 2
    The state of containing.
  3. 3
    Something contained.
  4. 4
    A policy of checking the expansion of a hostile foreign power by creating alliances with other states; especially the foreign policy strategy of the United States in the early years of the Cold War.
  5. 5
    A physical system designed to prevent the accidental release of radioactive or other dangerous materials from a nuclear reactor or industrial plant.
  6. 6
    An inclusion.

Etymology

From contain + -ment.

This word in other languages

contención(Español)confinement(Français)Eindämmung(Deutsch)contenção(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccontainment,cnotainment,conatinment,conntainment,contaimnent,containemnt,containmennt,containmentt,containmetn,containmment,containmnet,containnment,contaniment,contianment,conttainment,cotnainment,ocntainment

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of containment - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ccontainment1cnotainment2conatinment2conntainment1contaimnent2containemnt2containmennt1containmentt1
Edit distance from "containment"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "containment"?
"containment" is spelled C-O-N-T-A-I-N-M-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /kənˈteɪnmənt/.
What does "containment" mean?
As a noun, "containment" means: The state of being contained.
What words are commonly confused with "containment"?
"containment" is commonly confused with "continent", "contingent". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "containment"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "containment" is /kənˈteɪnmənt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "containment"?
From contain + -ment. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “containment”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-N-T-A-I-N-M-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kənˈteɪnmənt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “continent” - see the side-by-side comparison. containment vs continent
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list