deterrence
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of deterrence
First recorded in 1860–65; deterr(ent) + -ence
Explanation
A deterrence discourages you from doing something. An invisible electric fence is an excellent deterrence for dogs who like to roam outside the yard. You can influence someone's actions by promoting certain behaviors and discouraging others. And it's the discouragement part where deterrence comes in. A deterrence makes you reconsider doing something — usually bad things like stealing or skipping school — because you know the penalty will be harsh. Deterrences make you afraid to try something. So many homeowners hope that a security alarm will be a deterrence to burglars.
Vocabulary lists containing deterrence
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 5
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Ronald Reagan, "Tear Down This Wall" (1987)
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This Week in Words: December 16 - 22, 2017
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“That’s why Europe needs to build up its capabilities and deterrence options while maintaining active cooperation with the U.S.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
The plan, called forward deterrence, involves deploying French nuclear-enabled Rafale jets and creating new infrastructure and intelligence links.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
A small coastguard ship made an initial attempt using an electrical deterrence device, which generates a weak current that sharks avoid.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs also announced that France had agreed to start talks with Latvia about joining a French nuclear deterrence initiative and strengthen its military presence in Latvia.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Henry Kissinger, a contemporary politician, wrote: “Deterrence depends, above all, on psychological criteria. For purposes of deterrence, a bluff taken seriously is more useful than a serious threat interpreted as a bluff.”
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
