əbzˈtenchən, ab-, -bˈst- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin abstention-, abstentio, from Latin abstentus, past participle of abstinēre to abstain + -ion-, -io -ion — more at abstain
1. : act or practice of abstaining ; specifically : withholding of a vote
seven votes in favor, three against, and one abstention — A.W.Rudzinski
2. : nonparticipation in political life or (as by a government) in international affairs
cooperation versus isolation in the 'twenties, intervention versus abstention in the late thirties — H.J.Morgenthau
• ab·sten·tion·ism -ˌnizəm noun -s
• ab·sten·tion·ist -_nə̇st noun -s