From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdeterrentde‧ter‧rent /dɪˈterənt $ -ˈtɜːr-/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 PERSUADEsomething that makes someone less likely to do something, by making them realize it will be difficult or have bad results The small fines for this type of crime do not act as much of a deterrent.deterrent to/for/against Window locks are an effective deterrent against burglars. the deterrent effect of prison sentences2 → nuclear deterrent —deterrence noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
deterrent• Experts do not agree about whether the death penalty acts as a deterrent.• The special paint is meant to be a deterrent to graffiti artists.• What's more, most people no longer believe the death penalty is a deterrent.• The bishops said the death penalty was not a deterrent to crime, had racist overtones and cost millions of dollars.• The small fines for copying software were not much of a deterrent.• And not only that, but they pass on their chemical deterrent through the pupal stage into the adult moth itself.• Also unclear is whether execution by lethal injection will have any effect on the death penalty as a crime deterrent.• The fines are large enough to be an effective deterrent against speeding.• Window locks are a cheap and effective deterrent.• As in human warfare, chemical defences are essentially deterrents rather than everyday weapons.• This has proven to be a strong deterrent against theft.• Requiring drug tests of this discrete group of citizens is an intrusion, a humiliation and a subtle deterrent to prospective candidates.• It is a matter of regret that the Opposition's commitment to that deterrent is not generally accepted.act as ... a deterrent• In addition, divided catalogues or separate classified catalogues could also have acted as a deterrent to subject searching.• Double glazing may act as a deterrent, and may firms fit window locks as standard.• This sentence certainly will not act as a deterrent to other drunk drivers.• The black and white stripes of the skunks act as a powerful deterrent, even from a great distance.• A half squadron of gendarmes has been stationed in Maripasoula, their presence supposedly acting as a deterrent.• Whether that would act as a deterrent is, of course, another question altogether. 