incumbency

American  

[in-kuhm-buhn-see] / ɪnˈkʌm bən si /

noun

plural

incumbencies

1. the quality or state of being incumbent.

2. the position or term of an incumbent.

3. something that is incumbent.

4. a duty or obligation.

   my incumbencies as head of the organization.

5. Archaic. an incumbent weight or mass.

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incumbency British  

/ ɪnˈkʌmbənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being incumbent

2. the office, duty, or tenure of an incumbent

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Etymology

Origin of incumbency

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

Example Sentences

But she also noted that Mastercard and Visa have “two-sided networks across billions of consumers and hundreds of millions of merchants” that confer major incumbency advantages.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 28, 2026

“You’ve got a huge incumbency advantage having the megawatts today,” says Energy Capital Partners’ Kimmelman.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

Mr. Miyares, whose mother fled Cuba, has the advantage of incumbency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

Now in his 11th two-year term, Green’s de facto incumbency could be difficult for any newcomer to overcome.

From Salon • Aug. 3, 2025

In 1833 he received the title of professor, and in 1835 he was appointed to the incumbency of Sunne, in the diocese of Karlstad, where he resided for the remainder of his life.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 3 "Frost" to "Fyzabad" by Various