abstention
oxford
views updated May 23 2018ab·sten·tion / abˈstenshən/ •
n. 1. an instance of declining to vote for or against a proposal or motion.2. the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something; abstinence.DERIVATIVES: ab·sten·tion·ism / -ˌnizəm/ n.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English