deterrent

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Something that discourages people from doing something.

   Heavy fines act as a deterrent to careless drivers.

2. 2
   adj

   Serving to discourage or prevent something from happening.

   The new policy is meant to have a deterrent effect on shoplifting.

Learned borrowing from Latin dēterrēns, dēterrentem.

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