- [countable, uncountable] abstention (from something)
an act of choosing not to use a vote either in favour of or against something 弃权（不投票） The voting was 15 in favour, 3 against and 2 abstentions. 表决结果是 15 人赞成，3 人反对，2 人弃权。 Voter abstention is seen as the only real form of dissent in elections. 选民弃权被视为选举中唯一真正的异议形式。
- [uncountable] abstention (from something) (formal)
the act of not allowing yourself to have or do something fun or something that is considered bad 戒；戒除 The Church insisted on abstention from all luxuries. 教会坚持放弃一切奢侈品。
see also abstain
Word Originearly 16th cent. (denoting the action of keeping back or restraining): from late Latin abstentio(n-), from the verb abstinere , from ab- ‘from’ + tenere ‘hold’.