incumbent

1 of 2

noun

in·cum·bent in-ˈkəm-bənt

Synonyms of incumbent

: the holder of an office or ecclesiastical benefice

: one that occupies a particular position or place

incumbent

2 of 2

adjective

in·cum·bent in-ˈkəm-bənt

: imposed as a duty : obligatory

incumbent on us to take action

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

the team's incumbent third baseman

especially : occupying a specified office

the incumbent mayor

: lying or resting on something else

: 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."

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Since first taking office, Trump has shown a willingness to criticize members of his own party, withhold his endorsement of them and even back challengers to incumbents, unlike any of his predecessors in the Oval Office. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025 Politicians associated with President Emmanuel Macron will be fighting an uphill battle to overcome his broadly unpopular legacy, and the palpable anger at incumbents around the globe. —Cole Stangler, Time, 1 Apr. 2025

Adjective

The race for mayor in Geneva in the April 1 election is between incumbent Kevin Burns and challenger Karsten Pawlik. —David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 There's still a place for the Pentagon's incumbent contractors, according to Hammett. —Ars Technica, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for incumbent

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

See more words from the same century