What does abstention mean?
Abstention is the deliberate act of holding back from doing something — most commonly, declining to cast a vote. When members of a parliament, board, or committee abstain, they are present but choose not to support or oppose a proposal, and their abstentions are recorded alongside the yes and no votes. The word also covers self-restraint more broadly, as in abstention from alcohol, gambling, or some other indulgence. Formal and precise in register, it appears frequently in political reporting, legal proceedings, and organizational minutes. An abstention carries a distinctive weight: unlike a vote against, it signals neither approval nor opposition but a conscious decision to stand aside, whether out of conflict of interest, uncertainty, or principle. Derived from the Latin verb abstinēre, meaning to hold back or keep from, it shares its roots with abstinence and abstain, though it has come to be associated chiefly with formal non-participation rather than personal denial.
nounThe act of deliberately choosing not to do something, especially not to vote or not to take part in an activity. It also refers to restraint from or avoidance of something, such as alcohol, food, or other indulgences.
- The act of formally declining to vote on a motion or proposal.
- The act of restraining oneself from or avoiding an activity, habit, or indulgence.
"Several members of the committee declared their abstention rather than vote on the controversial proposal."
"The bill passed with twelve votes in favour, nine against, and three abstentions."
"His lifelong abstention from gambling reflected a deep personal discipline rather than any religious rule."
The plural is standard when referring to multiple individual acts of non-voting or restraint, especially when tallying results.
"There were five abstentions in the final vote on the budget."
In many parliaments, an abstention isn't neutrality at all — it quietly helps whichever side needs fewer votes to win.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abstention
Abstention comes from the Latin verb abstinēre, formed from ab- ("away from") plus tenēre ("to hold"), literally meaning "to hold back or keep away from." The word entered English via French abstention in the early modern period, around the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. It shares its Latin root with the closely related words abstain, abstinence, and abstinent, all of which preserve the core sense of holding oneself back. Over time, abstention developed its strongest association with the formal act of declining to vote, while its siblings came to emphasize personal restraint from indulgence.
Related word forms
How abstention is actually used
Abstention is a formal, somewhat elevated word most common in political, legal, and procedural contexts. In everyday speech about giving up habits, "abstinence" or plainer phrasing ("he doesn't drink") is more natural. The plural "abstentions" is standard when counting individual instances of non-voting.
Easily confused with abstention
Abstinence is the practice of refraining from a pleasure or indulgence (especially food, drink, or sex), while abstention is the broader act of withholding oneself from an action such as voting.
"Absention" is simply a misspelling of abstention and is not a word in standard English.