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# deterrence

noun (uncountable)

«deterrence» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Stopping people from doing something by making them afraid of what would happen to them if they did it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/#m1)
2. (politics) The idea that a country can stop attacks by having strong weapons that would hit back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/#m2)

### In the lessons

In citizenship and history lessons, deterrence explains why there are punishments and fines: to stop people breaking rules. In news and the Cold War topic, «nuclear deterrence» means countries keep weapons hoping never to use them. In everyday safety, CCTV signs are a deterrent to thieves. Phrases: «nuclear deterrence», «as a deterrence», «deterrent».

### Examples

- Fines for littering are a form of deterrence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/#x1)
- The bright lights act as deterrence against burglars. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/#x2)
- During the Cold War, both sides relied on nuclear deterrence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/#x3)
- Some people argue that deterrence works better than punishment after a crime. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/#x4)
- The guard dog provides deterrence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/#x5)
- Deterrence only works if people believe the threat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable. Related: deter (verb: to put someone off), deterrent (noun: the thing that deters). Spelled with double «r». People argue about how well deterrence works; it is a debated idea, not a proven fact.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «deterrence» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrence/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«deterrence» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/deterrence.html) on Mova free.