incumbent

incumbent — adjective

1. currently holding a particular official position, for example in government or a

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

currently holding a particular official position, for example in government or a formal organization

Example

The incumbent mayor of Kaohsiung decided not to run for another term.

incumbent + [title] + of [place]

Evelyn had a clear advantage over her opponent because she was the incumbent senator.

be the incumbent + [title]

Common collocations
  • incumbent president
  • incumbent mayor
  • incumbent government
  • incumbent senator
  • incumbent candidate
  • incumbent party
Synonyms
  • current

    less formal and broader in use; 'current' does not carry the same implication of official position

  • sitting

    used mainly for judges and members of parliament; slightly narrower in scope

Antonyms
  • former

    refers to someone who held the position in the past but no longer does

Grammar Patterns

incumbent + [title/position noun]

Usage Note

This sense always appears immediately before a noun naming the position held (president, mayor, government, etc.). It cannot be used as a predicative adjective alone.

Common Mistakes

The mayor incumbent announced his plan.
The incumbent mayor announced his plan.
'incumbent' must go before the position noun, not after it.

2. means that a particular person is morally bound to do something — for example, a

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

means that a particular person is morally bound to do something — for example, a doctor's duty to tell the truth to a patient, or a parent's obligation to protect their child

Example

It is incumbent upon the school board to provide equal opportunities for all students.

it is incumbent upon [authority] to [verb phrase]

Nora felt it was incumbent on her to tell the truth about what she saw.

Common collocations
  • incumbent upon
  • incumbent on
  • incumbent upon someone to
  • feel it incumbent upon oneself
Synonyms
  • obligatory

    stronger and more legalistic; used for rules or laws rather than moral duty

  • binding

    implies a formal or legal requirement rather than a moral one

  • required

    more neutral and less formal; does not carry the same moral weight

Antonyms
  • optional

    suggests that something may be chosen freely and is not required

Grammar Patterns

it is incumbent upon/on [someone] to [do something]

Usage Note

Frequently occurs in the fixed construction 'it is incumbent upon/on [someone] to [do something].' The subject of the sentence is usually dummy 'it,' and the real subject is the infinitive clause. 'Upon' and 'on' are interchangeable, though 'upon' is more formal.

Common Mistakes

I am incumbent to report the issue.
It is incumbent upon me to report the issue.
'incumbent' in this sense cannot describe a person directly; use the 'it is incumbent upon [someone]' pattern.

incumbent — noun

Word family

  • incumbency
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Incumbent, officeholder, official, and office-bearer all refer to someone who holds a position, but they differ in context and formality. Incumbent is the most common term in election coverage and strongly implies the person currently in office, often contrasted with a challenger. Officeholder is more neutral and can describe anyone occupying a formal role, not just elected ones. Official is the broadest term: it covers any person with authority in an organization, from a government bureaucrat to a sports referee. Office-bearer is chiefly British and tends to appear in organizational or ceremonial contexts, such as club committees or church roles. For example, 'the incumbent faced a tough debate' sounds natural in a political news report, but 'the office-bearer read the minutes' belongs in a committee meeting, not on the campaign trail.

incumbent ↗officeholderofficial ↗office-bearer

Common collocations

Phrases

  • the incumbent
  • it is incumbent upon/on

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Incumbent comes from the Latin verb 'incumbere,' meaning 'to lie down on' or 'to lean upon.' In Latin, 'incumbere' was formed from 'in-' (upon) and 'cumbere' (to lie down). The sense of 'resting on someone as a duty' developed in English by the 1500s, describing a responsibility that 'lies upon' a person. By the 1600s, the word was also used to refer to someone who 'occupies' or 'rests in' an official position, giving rise to the modern political meaning.