abstention from voting

/əbˈstenʃən frəm ˈvoʊtɪŋ/

noun phrase

  1. The act of choosing not to vote in an election or on a particular issue, rather than voting for or against it.

    B2

    usually uncountableformal

    • "Abstention from voting is common when people do not support any candidate."B1
    • "Many citizens chose abstention from voting due to dissatisfaction with the candidates."B2
    • "The proposal passed despite several members' abstention from voting."B2
    • "Her abstention from voting was interpreted as a refusal to endorse either side."C1

Common mistakes

  • abstention of voting→abstention from voting

    Use from after abstention when saying what someone did not participate in.

Collocations

abstain from votingrecord an abstentionabstention from voting in an electionabstention from voting on a referendumvote in favorvote against

Word family

abstainabstentionabstainer