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 vote was 204 in favor of impeachment and 85 voting against it; voting in three abstentions and eight votes were ruled invalid, NBC News reported.
—
Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
With five votes in favor and two abstentions, the board named Cory Wilson, the assistant superintendent of educational services, the interim superintendent.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2025
The vote to recall her was 16-5 with two abstentions.
—Ted Reed, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
The council voted 5-2, with one abstention, according to The Sacramento Bee on Dec. 18, 1985.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstention
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 14 Dec. 2024
With five votes in favor and two abstentions, the board named Cory Wilson, the assistant superintendent of educational services, the interim superintendent.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2025
The vote to recall her was 16-5 with two abstentions.
—Ted Reed, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
The council voted 5-2, with one abstention, according to The Sacramento Bee on Dec. 18, 1985.
—Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstention
Cite this Entry
“Abstention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abstention. Accessed 19 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share