What does abstention mean?
Definitions for abstention
æbˈstɛn ʃənab·sten·tion
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word abstention.
Princeton's WordNet
abstinence, abstentionnoun
the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)
Wiktionary
abstentionnoun
The act of abstaining; a holding aloof
Etymology: * First attested in 1521.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Abstentionnoun
The act of holding off, or restraining; restraint. Dict.
Etymology: from abstineo, Lat.
Wikipedia
Abstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote (on election day) or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by marking it wrongly or by not marking anything at all. A "blank (or white) voter" has voted, although their vote may be considered a spoilt vote, depending on each legislation, while an abstaining voter has not voted. Both forms (abstention and blank vote) may or may not, depending on the circumstances, be considered to be a protest vote (also known as a "blank vote" or "white vote"). An abstention may be used to indicate the voting individual's ambivalence about the measure, or mild disapproval that does not rise to the level of active opposition. Abstention can also be used when someone has a certain position about an issue, but since the popular sentiment supports the opposite, it might not be politically expedient to vote according to their conscience. A person may also abstain when they do not feel adequately informed about the issue at hand, or have not participated in relevant discussion. In parliamentary procedure, a member may be required to abstain in the case of a real or perceived conflict of interest.Abstentions do not count in tallying the vote negatively or positively; when members abstain, they are in effect attending only to contribute to a quorum. White votes, however, may be counted in the total of votes, depending on the legislation.
ChatGPT
abstention
Abstention refers to the act of intentionally refraining or abstaining from participating in a decision, vote, consumption of particular substances, or any kind of action or involvement. It is often used in a political context to describe when a person or party chooses not to vote or participate in a legislative decision. However, it can also refer to personal choices for example, abstaining from alcohol or certain dietary choices.
Webster Dictionary
Abstentionadjective
the act of abstaining; a holding aloof
Etymology: [F. See Abstain.]
Wikidata
Abstention
Abstention is a term in election procedure for when a participant in a vote either does not go to vote or, in parliamentary procedure, is present during the vote, but does not cast a ballot. Abstention must be contrasted with "blank vote", in which a voter casts a ballot willfully made invalid by marking it wrongly or by not marking anything at all. A "blank voter" has voted, although his vote may be considered a spoilt vote, depending on each legislation, while an abstaining voter hasn't voted. Both forms may or may not, depending on the circumstances, be considered to be protest vote. An abstention may be used to indicate the voting individual's ambivalence about the measure, or mild disapproval that does not rise to the level of active opposition. Abstention can also be used when someone has a certain position about an issue, but since the popular sentiment supports the opposite, it might be not be politically expedient to vote according to his or her conscience. A person may also abstain when they do not feel adequately informed about the issue at hand, or has not participated in relevant discussion. In parliamentary procedure, a member may be required to abstain in the case of a real or perceived conflict of interest.
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
- [["1515","9"],["1680","3"],["1681","1"],["1683","1"],["1755","1"],["1774","2"],["1788","2"],["1800","3"],["1805","2"],["1806","1"],["1808","4"],["1810","1"],["1811","2"],["1812","3"],["1815","4"],["1816","3"],["1817","2"],["1820","2"],["1821","4"],["1822","32"],["1824","2"],["1825","3"],["1828","20"],["1829","4"],["1831","8"],["1834","53"],["1838","2"],["1839","34"],["1840","3"],["1841","2"],["1842","2"],["1843","9"],["1845","3"],["1846","3"],["1848","1"],["1849","1"],["1850","15"],["1852","6"],["1853","18"],["1854","14"],["1855","14"],["1856","5"],["1857","23"],["1858","3"],["1859","14"],["1860","24"],["1861","26"],["1862","12"],["1863","28"],["1864","26"],["1865","42"],["1866","23"],["1867","11"],["1868","65"],["1869","65"],["1870","43"],["1871","123"],["1872","125"],["1873","113"],["1874","150"],["1875","178"],["1876","159"],["1877","272"],["1878","191"],["1879","265"],["1880","297"],["1881","295"],["1882","310"],["1883","283"],["1884","382"],["1885","373"],["1886","328"],["1887","503"],["1888","332"],["1889","355"],["1890","435"],["1891","523"],["1892","471"],["1893","633"],["1894","526"],["1895","532"],["1896","584"],["1897","593"],["1898","700"],["1899","691"],["1900","950"],["1901","740"],["1902","845"],["1903","806"],["1904","897"],["1905","719"],["1906","869"],["1907","943"],["1908","881"],["1909","818"],["1910","1070"],["1911","886"],["1912","982"],["1913","849"],["1914","998"],["1915","924"],["1916","809"],["1917","785"],["1918","1036"],["1919","1000"],["1920","1074"],["1921","956"],["1922","1104"],["1923","986"],["1924","858"],["1925","1002"],["1926","815"],["1927","1077"],["1928","1019"],["1929","870"],["1930","1080"],["1931","1014"],["1932","850"],["1933","758"],["1934","1082"],["1935","986"],["1936","979"],["1937","1039"],["1938","956"],["1939","1079"],["1940","898"],["1941","651"],["1942","579"],["1943","573"],["1944","569"],["1945","674"],["1946","862"],["1947","1104"],["1948","1261"],["1949","1296"],["1950","1631"],["1951","1380"],["1952","1451"],["1953","1489"],["1954","1396"],["1955","1506"],["1956","1821"],["1957","1802"],["1958","2242"],["1959","1884"],["1960","2158"],["1961","2350"],["1962","3052"],["1963","3245"],["1964","3240"],["1965","3363"],["1966","3483"],["1967","4011"],["1968","4176"],["1969","4024"],["1970","4131"],["1971","3549"],["1972","4027"],["1973","4391"],["1974","4316"],["1975","3767"],["1976","4097"],["1977","4604"],["1978","4353"],["1979","4109"],["1980","4093"],["1981","4355"],["1982","4003"],["1983","4278"],["1984","4047"],["1985","4917"],["1986","5116"],["1987","5401"],["1988","4479"],["1989","5651"],["1990","5432"],["1991","5771"],["1992","5746"],["1993","5732"],["1994","7129"],["1995","6042"],["1996","6279"],["1997","6217"],["1998","7461"],["1999","7942"],["2000","8243"],["2001","8728"],["2002","8743"],["2003","8837"],["2004","8401"],["2005","8231"],["2006","9354"],["2007","9917"],["2008","9972"]]
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of abstention in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of abstention in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2
Examples of abstention in a Sentence
With eight votes in favor and one abstention, we have decided to admit the case against justice Benavides.
Not one vote should be lost, we should not be beaten by abstention, an abstention is a victory for New Democracy.
An abstention is an indication that I respect the holiday but I also respect the taxpayers.
The Socialist party's adversary is not Podemos or the PP, our challenge is going to vote, our challenge is conquering abstention.
The common man is the sovereign consumer whose buying or abstention from buying ultimately determines what should be produced and in what quantity and quality.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for abstention
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- въздържаностBulgarian
- abstencióCatalan, Valencian
- EnthaltungGerman
- sindetenoEsperanto
- abstenciónSpanish
- pidättäytyminenFinnish
- abstentionFrench
- seachnadhScottish Gaelic
- הימנעוHebrew
- abstentionInterlingua
- astensioneItalian
- 棄権, 禁酒, 不参加, 慎むJapanese
- onthoudingDutch
- avholdNorwegian
- abstynencjaPolish
- abstençãoPortuguese
- abținereRomanian
- воздержание, воздержанностьRussian
- çekimserlikTurkish
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"abstention." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Nov. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/abstention>.
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