# deterrent

> English word · Adjective · IPA /dɪˈtɛɹənt/ · frequency rank #18,804

## Definitions
1. Serving to deter, preventing something from happening.

## Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin dēterrēns, dēterrentem.

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

## Common misspellings (12)
`ddeterrent`, `deetrrent`, `deterent`, `deterernt`, `deterrennt`, `deterrentt`, `deterretn`, `deterrnet`, `detrerent`, `detterrent`, `dteerrent`, `edterrent`

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