(obsolete) The act of restraining oneself. / The act of abstaining or refraining (from). / The act of declining to vote on a particular issue.

plural of abstention

(law) A rule under which a federal court in the United States will decline to exercise jurisdiction over a lawsuit because the suit could or should instead be heard by a state court.

plural of abstention doctrine

A policy of abstaining or of the desirability of withholding one's vote or other participation with regard to some aspect of the political process.

A practitioner or advocate of not getting involved politically.

relating to or in accordance with abstentionism.

plural of abstentionism

plural of abstentionist