incumbent

[in-kuhm-buhnt]

adjective

1. holding an indicated position, role, office, etc., currently.

   the incumbent officers of the club.

2. obligatory (often followed by on orupon ).

   a duty incumbent upon me.

3. Archaic.,  resting, lying, leaning, or pressing on something.

   incumbent upon the cool grass.

noun

1. the holder of an office.

   The incumbent was challenged by a fusion candidate.

2. British.,  a person who holds an ecclesiastical benefice.

incumbent

/ ɪnˈkʌmbənt /

adjective

1. formal,  morally binding or necessary; obligatory

   it is incumbent on me to attend

2. resting or lying (on)

noun

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

incumbent

1. 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.

Other Word Forms

• incumbently adverb
• anti-incumbent adjective
• nonincumbent noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of incumbent¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English (noun), from Latin incumbent-, stem of incumbēns “lying upon,” present participle of incumbere “to lie or lean upon,” equivalent to in- in- ² + -cumbere (variant combining form of cubāre “to lie down”; cubicle )

Word History and Origins

Origin of incumbent¹

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

Example Sentences

Christian Martinez, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, is now focusing on Gray’s voting history on the shutdown as a reason to criticize the incumbent.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But the incumbent’s track record isn’t helping her.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Barnaby Joyce, former deputy prime minister and incumbent New England lawmaker, wrote on Facebook that his "thoughts, prayer and hopes" were with those injured in the crash.

Read more on BBC

Ms. Wilson defeated incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell, who had tried to reverse the damage of the “defund the police” movement after he took office in 2022.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The biggest challenge is industrialization at scale and motivating large incumbents to move to field fast,” said Guy Vidra, a partner at Collaborative Fund, which co-led the seed round.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• occupant