deterrence

/dɪˈtɜrəns/
noun
  1. The act or process of discouraging someone from doing something, especially by making them afraid of the consequences.
    • The high fines serve as a deterrence against illegal parking.
    • Nuclear deterrence was a key strategy during the Cold War.
    • The new security cameras are meant for deterrence, not just catching thieves.
  2. A thing or factor that discourages a particular action.
    • For many people, the cost of a ticket is a deterrence to attending the concert.
    • The company hoped the warning would be a deterrence to future rule-breaking.
    • The threat of punishment is a strong deterrence to crime.
What does "deterrence" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean