deterrent

American  

[dih-tur-uhnt, -tuhr-, -ter-] / dɪˈtɜr ənt, -ˈtʌr-, -ˈtɛr- /

adjective

1. serving or tending to deter.

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noun

• deterrents
  plural

1. something that prevents, checks, or suppresses.

   a deterrent to crime.

2. something that repels.

   Our lemongrass-based bug deterrent is natural, safe, and effective.

   Synonyms:

   hindrance, check, curb, restraint

3. military strength or an ability to defend a country or retaliate strongly enough to deter an enemy from attacking.

deterrent British  

/ dɪˈtɛrənt /

noun

1. something that deters

2. a weapon or combination of weapons, esp nuclear, held by one state, etc, to deter attack by another

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adjective

1. tending or used to deter; restraining

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• deterrence
  noun
• nondeterrent
  adjective
• deterrently
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• deterrents
  plural

Etymology

Origin of deterrent

First recorded in 1820–30; from Latin dēterrent- (stem of dēterrēns ), present participle of dēterrēre; see origin at deter, -ent

Explanation

A deterrent makes you not want to do something. Let's say there's a giant pile of cookies being guarded by an angry dog — the dog is a deterrent. People talk about deterrents most often when discussing crime. The death penalty is supposed to be a deterrent — the idea is that people will be so scared of the death penalty that they won't commit certain crimes. Jail is another deterrent. Teachers also use deterrents — the possibility of getting detention is a deterrent that should encourage students to behave. A deterrent is the opposite of a reward. A reward encourages you to do the right thing, while a deterrent discourages you from doing the wrong thing.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

deterrent deterrents

The former swamp, made muddy by recent rains, is a natural deterrent for potential invaders.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Mayor Karen Bass and even some of his own prosecutors criticizing the filing as “insane” and a deterrent for police looking to expose corruption and misconduct within their ranks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

It may also increase the calls in the South for Seoul to develop its own nuclear deterrent to counter the growing nuclear arsenal in North Korea.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Washington and Seoul have conducted joint military exercises since the 1950s as a deterrent against North Korean aggression and a signal of allied readiness.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

Not only did all those police act as a deterrent, but they also provided the manpower to imprison criminals who might have otherwise gone uncaught.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

They said a variety of deterrents, including spikes and vapour-releasing gel pods to discourage roosting, were used as a first port of call.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

"We do implement a number of deterrents and any other measures are as a last resort only," the operator said.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

“And the durability of this truce depends less on the warmth of the words exchanged by the two leaders than on the credibility of the deterrents they can wield against each other.”

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

This lifestyle has also fostered an arms race of chemical deterrents to prevent the sponges from being eaten.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

The pervasive emptiness and stultifying summer heat were only minor deterrents when compared with the more elemental consideration that all the banking and commercial institutions were based elsewhere, chiefly in Philadelphia and New York.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• disincentive
• hindrance
• obstacle