incumbency

American  

[in-kuhm-buhn-see] / ɪnˈkʌm bən si /

noun

incumbencies plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• incumbencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of incumbency

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

Example Sentences

In that contest, which he won handily, he had the major advantage of incumbency after being appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to fill the vacancy caused by then-Atty.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

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

In 1891 Mr. Isaacs was appointed to the incumbency of St. Augustine's, Bath, or, as it had long been known, Portland Chapel, which position he held till 1899.

From Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by B.D.