WordValeincumbent
the current holder of a political office
In more detail
1. (noun) a person who currently holds a particular office or position
2. (adjective) currently holding an office or position
3. (adjective) required as a duty or responsibility
Examples
- 1. The incumbent president has been in office for four years.
- 2. The incumbent mayor will run for re-election.
- 3. It is incumbent upon you to finish your work on time.
How to use incumbent
As a noun or adjective describing someone in office, incumbent is common in political and institutional contexts. The third sense (required as a duty) is more formal and less frequently used in modern English; it appears in phrases like 'it is incumbent upon someone to do something.' Incumbent emphasizes current possession of a position and often implies an advantage or entrenched status.
Common phrases
- incumbent president
- incumbent candidate
- incumbent advantage
- sit as an incumbent
- defend one's incumbent seat
- challenge the incumbent
Synonyms
office holder · titleholder · current holder · sitting official · present occupant
Opposites
challenger · successor · predecessor
Word family
incumbency (noun) · incumbently (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse incumbent with 'incombent' or mispronounce it; also, the third sense (meaning required/obligatory) is often overlooked, with learners unaware that the adjective can mean 'obligatory' rather than just 'currently holding office.'
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