English Explanatory Dictionary

deterrence

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The act of deterring, or the state of being deterred.
  2. An action taken by states or alliances of nations against equally powerful alliances to prevent hostile action.
  3. The art of producing in one's enemy the fear of attacking.
  4. Nuclear deterrence: discouraging nuclear attack through the threat of nuclear retaliation.
  5. The action of discouraging an action or event by instilling doubt or fear of the penalty or punishment.

Pronunciation

/dɪˈtɛɹəns/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-deterrence.wav /dɪˈtɝɹəns/ /dɪˈtʌɹəns/ /diˈtɝɹəns/ /diˈtʌɹəns/

Word forms

deterrence deterrences

Etymology

From the stem of deterrent + -ence.

Synonyms

intimidation dissuasion

Derived words

finite deterrence focused deterrence nuclear deterrence overdeterrence phagodeterrence underdeterrence

Translations

Arabic: رَدْع Dutch: afschrikking Finnish: pelottelu French: dissuasion German: Abschreckung Portuguese: deterrência Portuguese: intimidação Russian: устраше́ние Russian: сде́рживание Swedish: avskräckning
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