abstentionist

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UK/əbˈstɛn.ʃn̩.ɪst/US/æbˈstɛn.ʃn̩.ɪst/US/æbˈstɛn.t͡ʃn̩.ɪst/US/əbˈstɛn.t͡ʃn̩.ɪst/

noun

A practitioner or advocate of not getting involved politically.

“An abstentionist only has influence through public opinion.”

First used First attested in the late 19ᵗʰ century.Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounabstentionist (plural abstentionists)

plural abstentionists

  1. A practitioner or advocate of not getting involved politically.First known use First attested in the late 19ᵗʰ century.

    An abstentionist only has influence through public opinion.

adjectiveabstentionist (comparative more abstentionist, superlative most abstentionist)

comparative more abstentionist · superlative most abstentionist

  1. relating to or in accordance with abstentionism.

Origin

From abstention + -ist.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch onthouder
  • onthouderadvocate of not getting involved politically
French abstentionniste
  • abstentionnisteadvocate of not getting involved politically
Italian astensionista
  • astensionistaadvocate of not getting involved politically
Portuguese abstencionista
  • abstencionistaadvocate of not getting involved politically
Spanish abstencionista
  • abstencionistaadvocate of not getting involved politically
Cite this entry
APA

abstentionist. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstentionist

MLA

“abstentionist.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstentionist. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abstentionist,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abstentionist.

Source: abstentionist on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.