deterrent
/dɪˈtɝənt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.33 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Serving to deter, preventing something from happening.
Example Sentences
- "An extension of the system to serve new housing estates on the outskirts of the city, at an estimated cost of about £4,000,000 a mile, is being considered, but the narrow gauge, small clearances, and short platforms are deterrents."
- "Along with trial by ordeal, hanging was the most effective deterrent that could be devised in an age without police or prisons."
- "The salarians believed the genophage would be used as a deterrent, a position the turians viewed as naive. Once the project was complete, the turians mass produced and deployed it. The krogan homeworld, their colonies, and all occupied worlds were infected."
- "One argument made by proponents of the death penalty is that it is a strong deterrent to murder and other violent crimes, but evidence shows just the opposite. Whereas the last execution in Canada took place in 1962, in 2011 there were 598 murders in Canada and 14,610 in the United States."
- "All is well until Treorchy, where the platform is swamped by teenagers who have been attending an event. Around four dozen unescorted 12 to 16 year-olds swarm aboard and begin to run riot through the train. Their behaviour is appalling and the presence of CCTV no deterrent."
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin dēterrēns, dēterrentem.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɪˈtɝənt/
- British English: /dɪˈtɛɹənt/