incumbent

[ in-kuhm-buh nt ]

/ ɪnˈkʌm bənt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR incumbent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

holding an indicated position, role, office, etc., currently: the incumbent officers of the club.

obligatory (often followed by on or upon): a duty incumbent upon me.

Archaic. resting, lying, leaning, or pressing on something: incumbent upon the cool grass.

noun

the holder of an office: The incumbent was challenged by a fusion candidate.

British. a person who holds an ecclesiastical benefice.

Nearby words

inculpate, inculpatory, incult, inculturation, incumbency, incumbent, incumbent on, incumber, incumbrance, incunable, incunabula

Origin of incumbent

1375–1425; late Middle English (noun) < Latin incumbent- (stem of incumbēns present participle of incumbere to lie or lean upon, equivalent to in- in-² + cumb- (nasalized variant of cub- sit, lie; see incubus) + -ent- -ent

Related forms

in·cum·bent·ly, adverban·ti-in·cum·bent, adjective, nounnon·in·cum·bent, noun, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for incumbent

Twelve incumbent governors who publicly support Common Core easily won re-election.
Why Voters Love Common Core|Harold Ford Jr.|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When Democratic incumbent Rep. Jim Matheson opted not to run again, Love won by several thousand votes in the 2014 midterms.
The Republican Rainbow Coalition Is Real|Tim Mak|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Actually, Brown lost the Senate race to Democrat incumbent Jean Shaheen because Scott once posed nude for Cosmo.
The GOP Senate: A New Utopia Dawns|P. J. O’Rourke|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Democratic incumbent was doing fine with local issues until her opponent used the ISIS beheadings to turn the tide.
Kay Hagan's North Carolina Crash|Patricia Murphy|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In Illinois, embattled Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn lost his bid for re-election against Bruce Rauner.
GOP Shocks Democrats in Governor Races|Ben Jacobs|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Being in such distress, I thought it incumbent on me to compose a sonnet; which I copy for you.
The Heroine|Eaton Stannard Barrett
But it is incumbent on me to paint my father's character, in order to inform you of the origin of my misfortunes.
Munster Village|Mary Hamilton
It is incumbent upon the manager to see that empty racks are thoroughly cleansed before placing wet rubber upon them.
The Preparation of Plantation Rubber|Sidney Morgan
The internal service arrangements at St. Peter's are worked by an incumbent, a curate, and a clerk.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus
At present I shall only say to you that the incumbent of this living is old and infirm, and that it is in my gift.
Joseph Andrews, Vol. 2|Henry Fielding

British Dictionary definitions for incumbent

incumbent

/ (ɪnˈkʌmbənt) /

adjective

formal (often postpositive and foll by on or upon and an infinitive) morally binding or necessary; obligatoryit is incumbent on me to attend

(usually postpositive and foll by on) resting or lying (on)

noun

a person who holds an office, esp a clergyman holding a benefice

Derived Forms

incumbently, adverb

Word Origin for incumbent

C16: from Latin incumbere to lie upon, devote one's attention to, from in- ² + -cumbere, related to Latin cubāre to lie down

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

Culture definitions for incumbent

incumbent

[ (in-kum-buhnt) ]

One who holds a public office. By virtue of their experience in office, their exposure to the public, and their ability to raise campaign funds, incumbents usually have a significant advantage over opponents if they choose to run for reelection.