incumbent
n. countablen. the person who currently holds a specific job or official position, especially in politics. You use this to talk about the person who is already in power during an election.
n. the current holder of an office or post. Often used in political contexts to distinguish the sitting official from challengers during an election cycle.
The incumbent is likely to win the election again.
In the upcoming mayoral race, the incumbent faces three challengers who are critical of his housing policy.
Political analysts suggest that the incumbent enjoys a significant advantage due to name recognition and established fundraising networks, making it difficult for any newcomer to gain traction.
From Latin incumbentem + English -ent (suffix denoting the causing, doing, or promoting of an action). Incumbentem is the accusative singular of incumbēns (“reclining”), the present active participle of incumbō (“to lay upon, to lean or recline on; to fall upon, to press down on”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘against; into; on, upon’) + cumbō (“to lie down, recline”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱewb-).
From Middle English incumbent, encumbent (“holder of an ecclesiastical benefice, dean, parson, etc.; cleric (?)”), from Medieval Latin incumbēns (“holder of a church position”) + Middle English -ent (suffix denoting one that causes, does, or promotes an action). Incumbēns is derived from Medieval Latin incumbō (“to obtain; to possess”), from Latin incumbō (“to lay upon, to lean or recline on; to fall upon, to press down on”): see etymology 1.
Commonly used in political and corporate contexts; often paired with the definite article 'the'.