deterrent

Universal Words noun (to sb/sth) a thing that makes sb less likely to do sth (= that deters them): Hopefully his punishment will act as a deterrent to others. * the country's nuclear deterrents (= nuclear weapons that are intended to stop an enemy from attacking) deterrence noun [U] (formal): His view is that prison sentences must be long enough to satisfy the requirements both of retribution and deterrence. deterrent adjective: a deterrent effect