incumbent
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.
the holder of an office: The incumbent was challenged by a fusion candidate.
British. a person who holds an ecclesiastical benefice.
Origin of incumbent
1Other words from incumbent
- in·cum·bent·ly, adverb
- an·ti-in·cum·bent, adjective, noun
- non·in·cum·bent, noun, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use incumbent in a sentence
And if Tisei were to pull out a win, he would be the first non-incumbent openly gay Republican to win election to Congress.
Baldwin is also the first openly gay non-incumbent ever elected to Congress.
History’s Progressive Gay Politicians that Paved the Way for Mike Michaud | Brandy Zadrozny | November 5, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTIt can, and I believe it will, push non-incumbent candidates to stand up to the NRA – and go after vulnerable ones who don't.
The asset is a reputation for administrative competence unmatched by any non-incumbent presidential candidate since .
British Dictionary definitions for incumbent
/ (ɪnˈkʌmbənt) /
formal (often postpositive and foll by on or upon and an infinitive) morally binding or necessary; obligatory: it is incumbent on me to attend
(usually postpositive and foll by on) resting or lying (on)
a person who holds an office, esp a clergyman holding a benefice
Origin of incumbent
1Derived forms of incumbent
- incumbently, adverb
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
Cultural definitions for 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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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