incumbency

[in-kuhm-buh n-see]

See more synonyms for incumbency on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural in·cum·ben·cies for 2–5.

the quality or state of being incumbent.
the position or term of an incumbent.
something that is incumbent.

a duty or obligation: my incumbencies as head of the organization.
Archaic. an incumbent weight or mass.

Origin of incumbency

First recorded in 1600–10; incumb(ent) + -ency

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for incumbency

Contemporary Examples

The benefits of incumbency are quite potent, especially in the all-important area of raising campaign funds.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress
Dean Obeidallah
January 8, 2015
The President, in his incumbency, didn't have to do a thing to own the middle ground.
No, I'm Pretty Sure Mitt Romney 'Gets It'
Justin Green
March 4, 2013
For Romney, however, giving poor people health care represents “the power of incumbency.”
Fox News Interview Shows Mitt Romney Still Doesn’t Get Why He Lost
Peter Beinart
March 4, 2013
Even with all of the advantages of incumbency, President Obama is vulnerable.
How Michele Bachmann Can Win
Mark McKinnon
April 8, 2011
Scandal may be forgiven, and incumbency has its uses, particularly if veteran legislators deliver for their constituents.
The Most Scandalous State
Joe Mathews
August 10, 2010

Historical Examples

Until the day of that incident his incumbency was in no way unusual.
Gladiator
Philip Wylie
The annals of his incumbency were doubtless short and simple: they have not survived.
The Stoneground Ghost Tales
E. G. Swain
I have saved this money during my twenty years of incumbency.
The Chaplain of the Fleet
Walter Besant and James Rice
But, nevertheless, this incumbency of Hogglestock was his all in the world.
The Last Chronicle of Barset
Anthony Trollope
He had got the offer of an incumbency not very far from Park-Lane.
A Life For a Love
L. T. Meade

British Dictionary definitions for incumbency

incumbency

noun plural -cies

the state or quality of being incumbent
the office, duty, or tenure of an incumbent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for incumbency

n.

c.1600, from incumbent + -cy.

incumbency

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}incumbency

Examples from the Web for incumbency

Contemporary Examples

The benefits of incumbency are quite potent, especially in the all-important area of raising campaign funds.

The President, in his incumbency, didn't have to do a thing to own the middle ground.

For Romney, however, giving poor people health care represents “the power of incumbency.”

Even with all of the advantages of incumbency, President Obama is vulnerable.

Scandal may be forgiven, and incumbency has its uses, particularly if veteran legislators deliver for their constituents.

Historical Examples

Until the day of that incident his incumbency was in no way unusual.

The annals of his incumbency were doubtless short and simple: they have not survived.

I have saved this money during my twenty years of incumbency.

But, nevertheless, this incumbency of Hogglestock was his all in the world.

He had got the offer of an incumbency not very far from Park-Lane.

incumbency

Word Origin and History for incumbency

n.

Origin of incumbency