incumbent

6 synonyms and 1 antonym for incumbent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Currently holding an office or position.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

sitting

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

reigning

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

current officeholder office holder present holder officeholder

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Currently holding an office or position.

“The incumbent mayor won re-election by a wide margin.”

sitting current officeholder office holder reigning present holder

2. adj

Required of someone because of their role or position.

“It is incumbent upon the CEO to keep shareholders informed.”

Opposites

optional

3. noun

The person who currently holds an office or position.

“The challenger struggled to unseat the incumbent.”

officeholder

How to use incumbent

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

incumbent president incumbent upon defeat the incumbent

Etymology

From Latin incumbēns ("reclining, resting upon"), the present participle of incumbere, from in- plus a root meaning "to lie down."

Full origin of incumbent →

Frequently asked questions

What does “incumbent” mean?

The word “incumbent” means currently holding an office or position. In plain terms, refers to whoever currently holds a position — often used in politics — or describes a duty that comes with a role.

How do you pronounce “incumbent”?

“Incumbent” is pronounced ihn-KUHMBNT (/ɪnˈkʌmbənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “incumbent” in a sentence?

Here is “incumbent” used in a sentence: “The incumbent mayor won re-election by a wide margin.”

What part of speech is “incumbent”?

Depending on how it is used, “incumbent” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “incumbent” come from?

The word “incumbent” comes from Latin. From Latin incumbēns ("reclining, resting upon"), the present participle of incumbere, from in- plus a root meaning "to lie down.".

Is “incumbent” a common word?

“Incumbent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “incumbent” have?

“Incumbent” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: currently holding an office or position.

What is the difference between incumbent and elect?

An incumbent is the person currently holding an office, while an elect (as in 'president-elect') is someone who has won an election but has not yet taken office. Incumbency refers to present occupation of a role, not a pending transition into one.

How is incumbent used as a formal phrase like 'incumbent upon'?

The phrase 'incumbent upon' or 'incumbent on' means something is required of a person because of their duty or position, as in 'it is incumbent upon the manager to approve the request.' This usage is formal and common in official or legal writing.

Can incumbent be used outside of politics?

Yes, incumbent applies to anyone currently holding a position, such as an incumbent CEO or an incumbent board member, not just elected officials. It simply marks the current holder of a role as opposed to a predecessor or challenger.

People also searched

sitting optional reigning officeholder

Nearby words

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