These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'automobile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
deterrent effect meaning, deterrent effect definition | English Cobuild dictionary. deterrent. 1 n-count A deterrent is something that prevents people from doing something by making them afraid of what will happen to them if they do it. They seriously believe that capital punishment is a deterrent...
General deterrence. a crime control policy that depends on the fear of criminal penalties. General deterrence measures, such as long prison sentences for violent crimes, are aimed at convincing the potential law violator that the pains associated with paying for the crime outweigh the benefits.