[noun]Abstention from alcohol is essential while you are taking this medication. [U]There were high levels of abstention (from voting) in the last elections. [U]There were ten votes in favour, six against and three abstentions (= votes which were neither for or against). [C]
ABSTENTION
Meaning of ABSTENTION in English
Cambridge English vocab. Кембриджский английский словарь. 2012