abstention

noun

ab·​sten·​tion əb-ˈsten(t)-shən 

ab-

: the act or practice of abstaining: such as

a

: the act or practice of choosing not to do or have something

abstention from drugs and alcohol

a long period of abstention [=abstinence]

b

: a formal refusal to vote on something

There were 10 ayes, 6 nays, and 2 abstentions.

abstentious

əb-ˈsten(t)-shəs 

ab-

adjective

Examples of abstention in a Sentence

There were 10 ayes, 6 nays, and 2 abstentions when the vote was taken.

a high rate of voter abstention

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite a higher number of abstentions than in previous years, a majority of nations – 165 – still voted in favor of lifting the decades-old embargo, citing concerns about unilateral sanctions. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025

On Wednesday, just two days before the hashing out was slated to begin, Ministers of the European Parliament voted 309 votes to 318, with 34 abstentions, rejecting the committee’s position. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025

There were abstentions and unexpected changes of position. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

Rosary’s appeal was denied via 10 votes to approve its appeal, 52 to deny it with 25 abstentions. —Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin abstentiōn-, abstentiō, from Latin absten-, variant stem of abstinēre "to abstain" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

1521, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for abstention

• dissention
• distention
• intention
• subvention
• circumvention
• contravention
• inattention
• intervention
• nonintervention

Kids Definition

abstention

noun

ab·​sten·​tion əb-ˈsten-chən 

ab-

: the act or practice of abstaining

especially : a formal refusal to vote

3 ayes, 5 nays, and 2 abstentions

Legal Definition

abstention

noun

ab·​sten·​tion əb-ˈsten-chən 

: the staying of the exercise of federal jurisdiction in a case that involves a question of state law or policy which the federal court prefers to have resolved by a state court or agency

also : the staying of the exercise of federal jurisdiction in a case that involves a proceeding in a court of military justice

— Burford abstention \ ˈbər-​fərd-​ \

: an abstention grounded on the involvement in the federal case of a challenge to the exercise of a usually complex state administrative function

— Colorado River abstention \ ˌkä-​lə-​ˈra-​dō-​, -​ˈrä-​ \

: an abstention grounded especially on the involvement in the federal case of questions of state concern that are also at issue in a parallel case in state court

— Pullman abstention \ ˈpu̇l-​mən-​ \

: an abstention grounded on the involvement in the federal case of the interpretation of an ambiguously worded state law whose constitutionality would have to be determined by the federal court

Note: A party to a case subjected to a Pullman abstention may reserve the right to return to federal court once the state court has resolved the state law question. Pullman abstentions are the most common type of abstention.

— Thibodaux abstention \ ˌtē-​bə-​ˈdō-​ \

: an abstention grounded on the involvement in the federal case of an issue that greatly affects and concerns a state

— Younger abstention \ ˈyəŋ-​gər-​ \

: an abstention grounded on the plaintiff's invocation of federal jurisdiction for the purpose of restraining an ongoing usually criminal state proceeding that has been brought in good faith and not for harassment