1. The action or process of discouraging someone from doing something by instilling fear of the consequences
The heavy penalty serves as a deterrence to potential criminals.
A pena pesada serve como dissuasão para criminosos em potencial.
2. In military strategy, the use of threats or military capability to prevent an adversary from taking hostile action
Nuclear deterrence has shaped international relations for decades.
A dissuasão nuclear moldou as relações internacionais por décadas.