incumbent

1 of 2

noun

in·​cum·​bent in-ˈkəm-bənt 

1

: the holder of an office or ecclesiastical benefice

2

: one that occupies a particular position or place

incumbent

2 of 2

adjective

in·​cum·​bent in-ˈkəm-bənt 

1

: imposed as a duty : obligatory

incumbent on us to take action

2

: having the status of an incumbent (see incumbent entry 1)

the team's incumbent third baseman

especially : occupying a specified office

the incumbent mayor

3

: lying or resting on something else

4

: bent over so as to rest on or touch an underlying surface

Did you know?

The Religious History of Incumbent

When incumbent was first used in English in the 15th century, it referred to someone who occupied a benefice—a paid position in a church. This was often a lifetime appointment; the person could only be forced to leave the office in the case of certain specific legal conflicts. In the mid-17th century, incumbent came to refer to anyone holding any office, including elected positions. In the modern American political system, incumbent typically refers to someone who is the current holder of a position during an election for that position. The word also functions as an adjective with its most common meanings being "occupying a specified office" ("the incumbent mayor") and "obligatory" ("it is incumbent upon us to help"). Incumbent came to English through Anglo-French and derives from the Latin incumbere, meaning "to lie down on."

Synonyms

Adjective

• compulsory
• forced
• imperative
• involuntary
• mandatory
• necessary
• nonelective
• obligatory
• peremptory
• required

Examples of incumbent in a Sentence

Noun

Because the statehouse now determines voting districts, the current map generally ensures that incumbents face minimal challenges to re-election. —Terry McCarthy, Time, 20 Dec. 2004

When Reagan and Clinton were seeking re-election, they didn't go after their opponents directly, in part because they didn't have to. Those incumbents knew that there's a point at which strong and tough can look weak and desperate. —Jonathan Alter, Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2004

Jane Austen was born into the downwardly mobile branch of an upper-middle-class family.  … None of the Austen children could inherit the family home from their father, a Church of England clergyman; after his death it would go to the next incumbent. —Kevin Barry, New York Times Book Review, 7 Dec. 1997

Voters will have the chance to see the incumbent and her opponent in a series of three debates.

Incumbents often have an advantage in elections.

Adjective

It is incumbent upon the press to act not in its own best interests, but in society's best interests. —Carll Tucker, Saturday Review, 23 June 1979

… the various types of obligation incumbent on the members of the profession. —R. M. MacIver, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, January 1955

… Mr. Lorry felt it incumbent on him to speak a word or two of reassurance. —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859

it is incumbent upon you to attend every staff meeting

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In November 1979, Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy was preparing to launch an upstart bid for president against the unpopular incumbent, Jimmy Carter. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025

In these ways, incumbents’ acts of retribution toward people and organizations that oppose their agenda reinforce loyalty among their allies. —Erica Frantz, The Conversation, 16 May 2025

Adjective

In what was ostensibly a nonpartisan race, all three incumbent candidates for Mansfield school board — all of whom were recommended by the Republican activist organization True Texas Project — fell to challengers in the May 3 elections, perhaps indicating a shift in voter sentiment. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025

In Georgia, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp this week decided against running against Sen. Jon Ossoff, seen as the most vulnerable incumbent Democrat on the board next year. —Philip Elliott, Time, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin incumbent-, incumbens, present participle of incumbere to lie down on, from in- + -cumbere to lie down; akin to cubare to lie

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing incumbent

• anti-incumbent
• incumbent on/upon

Rhymes for incumbent

• decumbent
• procumbent
• recumbent
• superincumbent

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Kids Definition

incumbent

1 of 2 noun

in·​cum·​bent in-ˈkəm-bənt 

: the holder of an office or position

incumbent

2 of 2 adjective

1

: given as a duty : obligatory

incumbent on us to take action

2

: being an incumbent

an incumbent president

3

: lying or resting on something else