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# the deterrent

phrase (noun phrase, «the deterrent»); «deterrent» is a noun (a deterrent, deterrents) and adjective

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

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, official, UK) a country's nuclear weapons.
2. (ordinary) anything that stops people from doing something by making them afraid of what will happen, e.g. a fine or a fence.

### In the lessons

Politicians and officials, especially in the UK, say «the deterrent» so they don't have to say «nuclear bombs» or «weapons of mass destruction»: it makes them sound defensive and calm. The ordinary sense is common in school and safety talk: cameras, locks and fines are deterrents.

### Examples

- (news) The government promised to renew the deterrent, at a cost of billions of pounds.
- (politics) "The deterrent keeps us safe," the minister said.
- (debate) Critics say the deterrent is a polite word for weapons that could destroy whole cities.
- (safety) A bright light by the door is a good deterrent to burglars.
- (school) The teacher hoped detention would be a deterrent to talking in class.
- (science) Some plants have bitter leaves as a deterrent to animals.
- Speed cameras act as a deterrent.

### Note

Trap: in British news «the deterrent» (with «the» and no other word) means nuclear weapons, not just a fence or a fine. The word «deter» = stop by fear. Spelling: deterrent with double r.