- [countable, uncountable] abstention (from something)
an act of choosing not to use a vote either in favour of or against something 棄權（不投票） The voting was 15 in favour, 3 against and 2 abstentions. 表決結果是 15 人贊成，3 人反對，2 人棄權。 Voter abstention is seen as the only real form of dissent in elections. 選民棄權被視爲選舉中唯一真正的異議形式。
- [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. 教會堅持放棄一切奢侈品。
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’.