/ Dictionary / Index A abstention: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: ab•sten•tion Pronunciation: (ab-sten'shun), [key] — n. an act or instance of abstaining. withholding of a vote. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: abstention (Thesaurus) abstemious abstentionism Related Content Daily Word Quiz: careening Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language