Etymology

abstentionism

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Today it means: 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. Full definition →

First used First attested in the mid 20ᵗʰ century.French abstentionnisme
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The story

  1. French · derived fromabstentionnisme
  2. English todayabstentionism

From French abstentionnisme. By surface analysis, abstention + -ism.

First known use, by meaning

  • First attested in the mid 20ᵗʰ century. 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.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.