1. Something that acts to discourage certain behaviour or action
   "The high fines serve as a deterrent to illegal parking";
   - discouragement
    
2. Something that interferes with (or delays) action or progress
   "The high cost of tuition acted as a deterrent to many potential students";
   - hindrance, hinderance [rare], impediment, balk, baulk [Brit], check, handicap

1. Tending to deter
   "the deterrent effects of high prices"

Derived forms: deterrents

See also: preventative, preventive

Type of: difficultness, difficulty

Encyclopedia: Deterrent