incumbent

1 of 2

noun

in·​cum·​bent in-ˈkəm-bənt How to pronounce incumbent (audio)
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 How to pronounce incumbent (audio)
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

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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."

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
Biden, the Democratic incumbent, is not — at this point — inspiring broad excitement among Black voters interviewed in recent months by the Journal Sentinel who traditionally vote for Democrats. Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 In the 1986 general election, longtime Democratic incumbent Alan Cranston was in the political fight of his life against Rep. Ed Zschau, a Republican from Silicon Valley. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Both incumbents have caused ire during their terms and face serious challenges to reelection. Laurel Rosenhall, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The upset will not derail Biden's path to the nomination as the incumbent won several other primaries on the night. James Powel, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 In the 4th and 5th Districts, incumbents easily sailed into the lead in early results. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 The incumbent’s campaign against John Wright was embroiled in controversy. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2024 District seats At the district level, all incumbents sought re-election, with only Dunlap and Leake facing primary challenges. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 District Republican Primary › About half the vote still remains, but Tony Gonzales, the Republican incumbent, needs to win more than 50% in his primary to avoid a runoff. Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Adjective
On the Republican side, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan used the primary system in 1976 to mount a serious challenge to incumbent President Gerald Ford. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 Overall, only 1 in 4 of them approved of the incumbent president's performance across the three Super Tuesday states with exit polls. Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024 District 4 In North San Jose, incumbent City Councilmember David Cohen squarely beat out his challenger Kansen Chu, earning 58.6% of the votes to Chu’s 41.4%. Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 The distinctions Joe Biden’s camp seems set on drawing with Donald Trump are of the finest sort, and the presumptive Republican nominee appears content to play the incumbent president’s game on his terms. Noah Rothman, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024 Hamilton pastor Diane Mullins is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Sara Carruthers for the seat. Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 Polls have shown that Americans favor the former president over incumbent Democrat President Joe Biden, increasing the genuine prospect of a second Trump term four years after he was voted out of the White House. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 11 Mar. 2024 Image Historically, re-elections have been referendums on the incumbent president and his leadership. Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 But one thing the incumbent president hasn’t had that some other presidents did: A difficult primary challenge from his own party. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incumbent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of incumbent was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near incumbent

Cite this Entry

“Incumbent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incumbent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

incumbent

1 of 2 noun
in·​cum·​bent in-ˈkəm-bənt How to pronounce incumbent (audio)
: 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

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