formal
1
: the act of making someone decide not to do something : the act of preventing a particular act or behavior from happening
the deterrence of crime
2
politics
: the policy of developing a lot of military power so that other countries will not attack your country
The author argues that deterrence is no longer the best way to prevent war.
nuclear deterrence
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“Deterrence.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/deterrence. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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