incumbent
ihn-KUHMBNT
Incumbent (adj) means Currently holding an office or position. Example: “The incumbent mayor won re-election by a wide margin.”
adj
1
Currently holding an office or position.
"The incumbent mayor won re-election by a wide margin."
"The incumbent champion defended her title in front of a cheering crowd."
"Voters must decide whether to keep the incumbent governor or choose someone new."
2
Required of someone because of their role or position.
"It is incumbent upon the CEO to keep shareholders informed."
"It is incumbent on teachers to keep their pupils safe."
"He felt it incumbent upon him to apologise to the whole team."
noun
1
The person who currently holds an office or position.
"The challenger struggled to unseat the incumbent."
"The incumbent promised to listen more if people kept her in the job."
"Several challengers hoped to replace the incumbent at the next vote."
How to use incumbent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers to whoever currently holds a position — often used in politics — or describes a duty that comes with a role.
Common pairings
incumbent president
incumbent upon
defeat the incumbent
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Word forms
- Plural
- incumbents
- Comparative
- more incumbent
- Superlative
- most incumbent
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The _____ mayor won re-election by a wide margin.
Etymology
From Latin incumbēns ("reclining, resting upon"), the present participle of incumbere, from in- plus a root meaning "to lie down."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for incumbent
See all rhymes for 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.
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