abstention

Etymology

First attested in 1521. Borrowed from French abstention, from Late Latin abstēntiō from Latin abstinēō (“withhold, to abstain”)

noun

1. (obsolete) The act of restraining oneself.
2. The act of abstaining or refraining (from).
   abstention from alcohol
   abstention from sex
3. The act of declining to vote on a particular issue.
   There were five abstentions in the vote.
4. Non-participation in the political world; as a country avoiding international affairs.