English Dictionary

DETERRENCE

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does deterrence mean? 

DETERRENCE (noun)
  The noun DETERRENCE has 3 senses:

1. a negative motivational influenceplay

2. a communication that makes you afraid to try somethingplay

3. the act or process of discouraging actions or preventing occurrences by instilling fear or doubt or anxietyplay

  Familiarity information: DETERRENCE used as a noun is uncommon.


 Dictionary entry details 


DETERRENCE (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A negative motivational influence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting goals

Synonyms:

deterrence; disincentive

Hypernyms ("deterrence" is a kind of...):

rational motive (a motive that can be defended by reasoning or logical argument)

Derivation:

deterrent (tending to deter)


Sense 2

Meaning:

A communication that makes you afraid to try something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

determent; deterrence; intimidation

Hypernyms ("deterrence" is a kind of...):

discouragement (the expression of opposition and disapproval)

Derivation:

deter (turn away from by persuasion)


Sense 3

Meaning:

The act or process of discouraging actions or preventing occurrences by instilling fear or doubt or anxiety

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("deterrence" is a kind of...):

hinderance; hindrance; interference (the act of hindering or obstructing or impeding)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "deterrence"):

discouragement (the act of discouraging)

nuclear deterrence (the military doctrine that an enemy will be deterred from using nuclear weapons as long as he can be destroyed as a consequence)

Derivation:

deter (try to prevent; show opposition to)

deterrent (tending to deter)


 Context examples 


But scientists have also now found these broadly-conserved genes responding to pathogen infection in very distantly-related plants, which suggests that land plants have retained a likely ancient pathogen deterrence strategy that is much too useful to lose.

(Ancient defence strategy continues to protect plants from pathogens, University of Cambridge)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Paddle your own canoe." (English proverb)

"Flesh of man - mends itself" (Breton proverb)

"Whatever you sow, that's what you'll reap." (Armenian proverb)

"Being able to feel it on wooden shoes." (Dutch proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact