ClimateJuly 10, 2026

deterrence

/dɪˈtɜːrəns/

Definition

The act or process of discouraging potential adversaries from taking hostile actions through the credible threat of military retaliation or defensive strength.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'deterrere', meaning 'to frighten away' or 'to turn aside by fear', formed by 'de-' (away) and 'terrere' (to frighten). It entered English in the 17th century to describe the act of discouraging someone from performing an action.

In the news

In the article, the author notes that NATO failed to systematically integrate energy security into its broader deterrence and defense planning. This implies that the alliance's ability to prevent aggression depends on how effectively it secures critical infrastructure like pipelines and cables.

At the NATO Summit, Energy Security Got a Word: Climate Got None

Read the full article ↗

Materia Rinnovabile | Renewable Matter

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.