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
Later, the United States won a wan 10-0 approval for a Security Council resolution (with five abstentions, including from Britain and France) that called for an end to the war without mentioning who started it.
—
Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
The law received 81 votes in its favor, 12 against it, and two abstentions.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Finally, the Security Council voted on the U.S. resolution as it was introduced, approving it by a vote of 10 to 0, with 5 abstentions.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
But now, the data suggests the pandemic has started a wave of abstention that is still rippling through grade levels.
—Ars Technica, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for abstention
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Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
The law received 81 votes in its favor, 12 against it, and two abstentions.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Finally, the Security Council voted on the U.S. resolution as it was introduced, approving it by a vote of 10 to 0, with 5 abstentions.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
But now, the data suggests the pandemic has started a wave of abstention that is still rippling through grade levels.
—Ars Technica, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for abstention
Cite this Entry
“Abstention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abstention. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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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