# incumbent

/ˌɪnˈkəmbənt/ (US) · /ɪnkˈʌmbənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/incumbent
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. current office holder

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the person who currently holds a particular job or official position.

For teachers: the current holder of an office or title, particularly in a political or ecclesiastical context.

- The incumbent president is expected to win the election easily.
- The incumbent faced a difficult challenge from a younger candidate who promised to overhaul the city's aging infrastructure.

### 2. market leader

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a company that already has a strong position in a market.

For teachers: a firm that has a dominant position in a market, often making it difficult for new competitors to enter.

- Small startups often struggle to compete with the large industry incumbents.
- The regulatory changes were designed to reduce the power of market incumbents and encourage innovation from smaller firms.

### 3. necessary or obligatory

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

used to say that it is someone's duty or responsibility to do something.

For teachers: imposed as a duty or obligation; typically used with 'on' or 'upon'.

- It is incumbent on us to help those who are less fortunate.
- The judge stated that it was incumbent upon the prosecution to provide clear evidence of the defendant's intent.

Usage: Usually follows the pattern 'it is incumbent on/upon [someone] to [do something]'.

### 4. resting on something

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical · Literary

leaning or resting on something else.

For teachers: lying, leaning, or resting on something else; in botany, describes an organ that rests against another.

- The heavy branches were incumbent upon the roof of the old shed.
- The botanist noted that the incumbent radicle was pressed firmly against the side of the cotyledons.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.