[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/deterrent/)

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# deterrent

noun (a deterrent, deterrents); adjective (a deterrent effect)

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

## Everyday

1. A deterrent is something that makes people decide not to do a thing, because of the trouble or danger it would bring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#m1)
2. As an adjective: having that effect, as in «a deterrent effect». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#m2)
3. (formal) Weapons a country keeps so that others are afraid to attack it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#m3)

### In the lessons

Used in safety, rules, law and nature (an animal's bad taste is a deterrent to predators). Phrases: «act as a deterrent», «a strong deterrent», «a deterrent to crime». It tells the reader why something is in place: to stop something before it happens.

### Examples

- A loud alarm is a good deterrent to burglars. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#x1)
- Bright colours on a frog act as a deterrent to birds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#x2)
- The fine for parking there is a strong deterrent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#x3)
- Spikes on the wall are a deterrent to climbers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#x4)
- The teacher hoped detention would be a deterrent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#x5)
- A dog barking is a deterrent for strangers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/deterrent/#x6)

### Note

Spelling: one r in «deter», but «deterrent» has double r. Countable: a deterrent. Do not confuse with «detergent» (soap for washing).

## On Mova

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