abstention
ab·sten·tion
/əbˈstɛnʃən/ noun , pl -tions
: the act or practice of abstaining: such as
a [ noncount ] : the act of choosing not to do or have something
He started drinking again after a long period of abstention. [=abstinence]
— usually + from
abstention from drugs and alcohol
b : a formal refusal to vote on something
[ count ] There were 10 ayes, 6 nays, and 2 abstentions when the vote was taken.
[ noncount ] a high rate of voter abstention
