deterrence
/dɪˈtɛr(ə)ns
/noun [mass noun]
The action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences: nuclear missiles remain the main deterrence against possible aggression they contend that a death penalty is necessary as a form of deterrence...
- Elsewhere in his treatise he reflects on the possibility of combining nuclear deterrence with conventional deterrence.
- The first capability that armed forces need to achieve deterrence is an offensive capability.
- Many file-swapping programs are a haven for online porn and provide very little deterrence for minors.
