dis ‧ cour ‧ age ‧ ment /dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒmənt $ -ˈkɜːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ encouraged ≠ ↑ discouraged , ↑ encouraging ≠ ↑ discouraging ; verb : ↑ encourage ≠ ↑ discourage ; noun : ↑ encouragement ≠ ↑ discouragement ; adverb : ↑ encouragingly ≠ ↑ discouragingly ]
1 . [uncountable] when you no longer feel confident or willing to do something:
In research, times of discouragement alternate with times of great achievement.
2 . [uncountable] when you try to persuade someone not to do something, especially by making it seem difficult or bad:
the discouragement of smoking
3 . [countable] something that discourages you