Stormont Assembly members voted by a majority of 59 to 40 against amending legislation to allow terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and sexual crime.
Although the lengthy debate ran to almost midnight, the outcome was fairly predictable after early indications that the Democratic Unionists and SDLP would not support the changes.
Unlike other parts of the UK, the 1967 Abortion Act does not extend to Northern Ireland, where abortions are banned except where the life or mental health of the mother is in danger.
Anyone who performs an illegal termination could be jailed for life.
Hundreds of women travel to other parts of the UK to access abortion services every year.
Sinn Féin supported the proposal.
The Alliance Party, the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP made clear this was considered a matter of conscience and no whip was being imposed.
Minister for Justice David Ford and several of his Alliance party colleagues spoke in favour of change as did Sinn Féin’s Caitriona Ruane and the Ulster Unionist leader, Mike Nesbitt.
Leading SDLP members opposed the amendment.
The DUP said it wanted the Health Minister to convene a commission to examine the issue of abortion and report back in six months.
A spokesman said: "We believe that this issue should best be dealt with in a measured way rather than in haste and without the benefit of appropriate scrutiny. Rushed law can often turn out to be bad law."
