deterrent

adjective

de·​ter·​rent di-ˈtər-ənt 

-ˈter-;

-ˈtə-rənt, 

-ˈte-;

dē-

1

: serving to discourage, prevent, or inhibit : serving to deter

The ads had a deterrent effect on youth smoking.

2

: relating to deterrence

a deterrent view of punishment

deterrent noun

deterrently adverb

Examples of deterrent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Will blowing up boats stop fentanyl deaths in the U.S.? Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, has said Trump's military strikes near Venezuela are already having a deterrent effect on drug cartels. —Brian Mann, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025

This team has neither a point-of-attack defense on the perimeter nor a true deterrent interior presence. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025

And it was confronted with the deterrent actions of the government. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025

Reuters reported last week that the fine would be modest, marking a change in Ribera’s approach with her predecessor’s deterrent hefty fines. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin deterrent-, deterrens, present participle of deterrēre to deter

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

deterrent

adjective

de·​ter·​rent di-ˈtər-ənt 

-ˈter-

: able or acting to deter

deterrent noun