deterrent
Americanadjective
noun
-
something that prevents, checks, or suppresses.
a deterrent to crime.
-
something that repels.
Our lemongrass-based bug deterrent is natural, safe, and effective.
-
military strength or an ability to defend a country or retaliate strongly enough to deter an enemy from attacking.
noun
-
something that deters
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a weapon or combination of weapons, esp nuclear, held by one state, etc, to deter attack by another
adjective
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing deterrent
The Book Thief
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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This Week in Words: April 14 - 20, 2018
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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.
Surging hotel room costs in host cities are also a deterrent.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
“It’s a deterrent to try and protect public access.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
"The best-case scenario is we put this in every single school in America and then never have to use it, right? Because it's got a deterrent quality to it," said King, a former Navy SEAL.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
"We hope this case will be a deterrent for many other people who wish to continue operating in this illegal trade," he tells the BBC.
From BBC • May 3, 2026
Assume for a moment that the death penalty Is a deterrent.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
