abstention
Americannoun
-
a voluntary decision not to act; the act of refraining or abstaining
-
the act of withholding one's vote
Other Word Forms
- abstentious adjective
- nonabstention noun
- unabstentious adjective
Etymology
Origin of abstention
1515–25; < Late Latin abstentiōn- (stem of abstentiō ), equivalent to Latin abstent ( us ), past participle of abstinēre to abstain + -iōn- -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On 13 May 2025, MSPs backed the "stage one vote" on the bill's general principles by 70 votes to 56, with one abstention.
From BBC
The motion was backed by 28 Senedd members, with 23 against and two abstentions.
From BBC
It passed by a tally of 107 countries in favor, 12 against and 51 abstentions, which included the United States.
From Barron's
It was rejected by 64 votes to 54, with no abstentions.
From BBC
In a vote last year, abstentions and votes against the idea outnumbered those who approved.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
