abstention

/æb'stenʃn/

Thân thiện

A person practices abstention by politely declining a glass of wine at a dinner party.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act or practice of deliberately refraining from something: Specifically, the act of choosing not to do or have something, often something considered enjoyable or customary.
   • The formal act of not voting: In a formal context, such as a meeting or election, it is the act of deliberately choosing not to vote either for or against a proposal or candidate.

Examples of Usage

• General Refraining:
  • His abstention from alcohol improved his health significantly.
  • The doctor recommended abstention from fatty foods.
• Formal Non-Voting:
  • There were ten votes in favor, three against, and two abstentions.
  • The delegate's abstention indicated neutrality on the controversial issue.

Advanced Usage

• "Abstention from": This is the standard prepositional phrase used to indicate what is being refrained from.
  • Abstention from social media can be beneficial for mental health.
• "A policy of abstention": Refers to a deliberate and consistent practice of not participating.
  • The country maintained a policy of abstention from international conflicts.

Variants and Related Words

• Abstain (verb): To formally choose not to vote, or to refrain from an activity.
  • Several members chose to abstain during the vote.
• Abstainer (noun): A person who abstains, especially from alcohol.
  • He has been a lifelong abstainer.
• Abstentious (adjective): Characterized by abstinence. (Note: This is a less common variant; "abstemious" is more frequently used for moderation in food/drink.)

Synonyms

• Refraining: The act of holding oneself back.
• Forbearance: Patient self-control; restraint.
• Nonparticipation: The fact of not taking part in something.

Related Phrases

• "A vote of abstention": A formal declaration of not voting.
  • She registered a vote of abstention on the motion.
• "Conscientious abstention": Abstaining based on moral or ethical principles.
  • His conscientious abstention was a protest against the proposal's wording.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the trait of abstaining (especially from alcohol)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• abstinence