deterrence

Language: en

🇬🇧 /dɪˈtɛrəns/ 🇺🇸 /dɪˈtɜrəns/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The act or process of discouraging or preventing someone from taking a particular action, especially through fear of consequences.; A military strategy based on the threat of retaliation, especially nuclear retaliation, to prevent an enemy from attacking.; In criminology, the theory that the threat of punishment discourages people from committing crimes.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

nuclear deterrencedeterrence theorydeterrence effectmutual deterrencedeterrence strategygeneral deterrence

Derivatives

deterdeterrentdeterreddeterring

Synonyms

preventiondiscouragementdissuasionintimidationinhibition

Antonyms

encouragementincitementprovocation

Commonly confused

deterrent
EN: 'Deterrent' is the thing that deters (a noun or adjective); 'deterrence' is the abstract concept or process of deterring.
determent
EN: 'Determent' is a rare/archaic synonym for deterrence; 'deterrence' is the standard modern term.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the double 'r' in 'deterrence' and the '-ence' ending (not '-ance').

💬 Examples

  1. The presence of security cameras serves as a deterrence to potential thieves.

  2. During the Cold War, mutual deterrence kept both superpowers from launching a first strike.

  3. Proponents of deterrence argue that harsher sentences reduce crime rates.