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

Initially, some members of the Harford council wanted the measure to apply regardless of whether the terms were consecutive, but the council ultimately approved the limit at three consecutive terms, by a vote of 5-1, with one abstention. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 6 Nov. 2024

The committee voted 16-5, with one abstention, in favor of moving forward with the plan. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2024

Complicating any effort to draw conclusions from turnout is the fact that there was widespread abstention, either because of a vote boycott organized by activists including those from the Woman, Life, Freedom movement or simply due to voter apathy. —Ellen Ioanes, Vox, 10 July 2024

The press release stated that Dewan was removed from her position in a 4-2 vote, with one abstention. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024

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

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