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.
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
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
Woodlands, a Wisconsin public charter school, currently has two locations in Milwaukee, one at 5510 W. Blue Mound Road and the other at 3121 W. State St.
The West Allis Plan Commission approved the plan by a 5-0 vote with two abstentions on Sept. 25.
—Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abstention 
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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
Woodlands, a Wisconsin public charter school, currently has two locations in Milwaukee, one at 5510 W. Blue Mound Road and the other at 3121 W. State St.
The West Allis Plan Commission approved the plan by a 5-0 vote with two abstentions on Sept. 25.
—Adrienne Davis, Journal Sentinel, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abstention
Dictionary Entries Near abstention
Cite this Entry
“Abstention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abstention. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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