Dictionary
de•ter•rent
Pronunciation: (di-tûr'unt, -tur'-, -ter'-), [key]—
adj.
serving or tending to deter.
—
n.
1. something that deters:
a deterrent to crime.
2. military strength or an ability to defend a country or retaliate strongly enough to deter an enemy from attacking.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.