deterrence

noun

de·​ter·​rence di-ˈtər-ən(t)s  -ˈter- 

-ˈtə-rən(t)s,

-ˈte-;

dē-

: the act or process of deterring: such as

a

: the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment

b

: the maintenance of military power for the purpose of discouraging attack

nuclear deterrence

Examples of deterrence in a Sentence

The author argues that deterrence is no longer the best way to prevent war.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two Iranian officials who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly said that Iran had placed all its armed forces on full high alert and that a decision had been made that Iran must respond directly to the Damascus attack to create deterrence. —Ronen Bergman, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024

By their logic, if a decisive victory is not achievable in Gaza, a war in Lebanon could yet restore Israeli deterrence, damage Iran’s deeper strategic interests, and possibly initiate a spiraling conflict that could lead the U.S. to strike Iran and its nuclear facilities. —Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024

Focused deterrence is a crime prevention strategy that targets high-risk offenders, featuring both swift sanctions for offenses and social services and community support to enable change. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024

Yet the modern missile age is more akin to guerilla warfare than to nuclear deterrence, strategic bombing, or even the large-scale precision strike approaches favored by U.S. planners—all of which stress conducting speedy operations. —Andrew Metrick, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024

Delicate calculations Few analysts think Iran would stay out of a fight that jeopardized its most powerful proxy force, but Hezbollah’s careful public messaging shows how delicate calculations of deterrence and escalation may be. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Mar. 2024

Cheung’s brutal treatment of DeSantis was part of a deterrence strategy. —Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

Political alliances, diplomatic alliances is deterrence. —Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024

In response, the Pentagon launched a large-scale attack and killed a key militia leader in Baghdad, restoring some deterrence and an uneasy calm. —Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see deter

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

deterrence

noun

de·​ter·​rence di-ˈtər-ən(t)s  -ˈter- 

: the act, process, or capability of deterring

Medical Definition

deterrence

noun

de·​ter·​rence

di-ˈtər-ən(t)s, -ˈter-; -ˈtə-rən(t)s; dē-

: the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment

Legal Definition

deterrence

noun

de·​ter·​rence di-ˈtər-əns, -ˈter- 

: the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment