# deterrence

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈtɛɹəns/ · frequency rank #29,239

## Definitions
1. The act of deterring, or the state of being deterred.
2. An action taken by states or alliances of nations against equally powerful alliances to prevent hostile action.
3. The art of producing in one's enemy the fear of attacking.
4. The art of producing in one's enemy the fear of attacking.
5. The action of discouraging an action or event by instilling doubt or fear of the penalty or punishment.

## Etymology
From the stem of deterrent + -ence.

## Easily confused with
- **deterrent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deterrence-vs-deterrent)
- **deference** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deference-vs-deterrence)

## Common misspellings (14)
`ddeterrence`, `deetrrence`, `deterence`, `deterernce`, `deterrance`, `deterrecne`, `deterrencce`, `deterrenec`, `deterrennce`, `deterrnece`, `detrerence`, `detterrence`, `dteerrence`, `edterrence`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/deterrence