abstention

American  

[ab-sten-shuhn] / æbˈstɛn ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of abstaining.

2. withholding of a vote.

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abstention British  

/ əbˈstɛnʃən /

noun

1. a voluntary decision not to act; the act of refraining or abstaining

2. the act of withholding one's vote

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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

Tesla shareholders had previously voted down a proposal that asked the board to invest in the startup, with more ‘no’ votes and abstentions than ‘yes’ votes.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Senate voted 46 in favor, 25 against, with one abstention after the lower Chamber of Deputies greenlit the budget.

From Barron's

The law on "granting a loan to prevent the bankruptcy of Budapest municipality" was adopted by the 199-member parliament -- dominated by Orban's governing coalition -- with 136 voting in favour, 34 against with no abstentions.

From Barron's

And he hopes opposition from within his own camp will be limited to abstentions rather than votes against.

From BBC

The second vote passed with six votes in favor, four against, and one abstention.

From Barron's