deterrent

views updated May 18 2018

de·ter·rent / diˈtərənt/ • n. a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something. ∎  a nuclear weapon or weapons system regarded as deterring an enemy from attack.• adj. able or intended to deter: the deterrent effect of heavy prison sentences.DERIVATIVES: de·ter·rence n.

More From encyclopedia.com