deterrence
dih-TUR-uns
/dɪˈtɜːrəns/
The action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
Focuses on preventing undesirable behavior by making the potential negative outcomes (e.g., punishment, capture) seem too high a cost.
The story behind the word. The word 'deterrence' comes from the Latin verb 'deterrere,' which means 'to frighten off' or 'to discourage.' It's formed from 'de-' (meaning 'away from') and 'terrere' (meaning 'to frighten'). So, the core idea is to scare someone away from an action by presenting negative consequences.
Word relationships
- discouragement: Broader, less formal, and can apply to any negative influence, not just fear of consequences.
- dissuasion: Persuading someone not to do something, often through argument rather than fear.
- intimidation: Making someone fearful, often with a more direct and aggressive threat.
- encouragement: The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
- incentive: A thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.
Word family
- deter (verb): To discourage someone from doing something.
- deterrent (noun): A thing that deters or is intended to deter someone from doing something.
Collocations
- nuclear deterrence
- effective deterrence
- general deterrence
- specific deterrence
- crime deterrence
Example sentences
- "Many argue that harsh penalties serve as a strong deterrence against repeat offenses, though evidence is often debated." Discussing criminal justice policy.
- "Nuclear deterrence was a key strategy during the Cold War, aiming to prevent direct conflict through the threat of mutually assured destruction." In international relations.
Memory hook
To 'DETER-RENTS' from being late, the landlord threatened eviction, which acted as a strong deterrence. Deter-Frighten
When not to use
Do not use when an action is prevented by physical impossibility or lack of opportunity, rather than fear of consequences.
Fun facts
- In criminology, 'general deterrence' aims to deter the general public, while 'specific deterrence' aims to deter an individual offender from re-offending.
- The effectiveness of various forms of deterrence in reducing crime is a subject of ongoing debate and research.
Related words
Explore more words
brinkmanship, coercion, containment, retributive, dissuade, forestall
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