Abstention | Mean of abstention in English Dictionary

/əbˈstɛnʃən/

• Noun
• the act or practice of abstaining: such as
• the act of choosing not to do or have something
1. He started drinking again after a long period of abstention. [=abstinence]
2. abstention from drugs and alcohol
• a formal refusal to vote on something
1. There were 10 ayes, 6 nays, and 2 abstentions when the vote was taken.
2. a high rate of voter abstention