abstention
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Pronunciation
[change]- (UK) IPA (key): /əbˈstɛn.ʃn̩/
- (US) IPA (key): /æbˈstɛn.ʃn̩/ or /əbˈstɛn.ʃn̩/ or /æbˈstɛn.t͡ʃn̩/ or /əbˈstɛn.t͡ʃn̩/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
[change]- (uncountable) Abstention is when someone is abstaining from something or when someone does not take part in something. It's usually used to refer to not drinking alcohol or not having sex.
- Antonym: indulgence
- Abstention stops you from getting drunk.
- My brother's abstention protected him from sexually transmitted diseases.