Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Currently holding an office or position: Refers to someone who currently occupies a specific official role.
   • Necessary as a duty or responsibility; morally binding: Describes something that is an obligation or duty for someone.
   • Lying or resting on something: (Technical, especially in geology/biology) Describes something that rests or leans upon something else.

2. Noun:

   • The current holder of an office or position: The official who currently occupies a specific post.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The incumbent mayor is running for re-election.
  • It is incumbent upon all citizens to obey the law.
  • The study focused on the incumbent rock layers.

• Noun:

  • The incumbent has a significant advantage in the campaign.
  • Voters will decide whether to re-elect the incumbent.

Advanced Usage

• "It is incumbent on/upon [someone] to [do something]": A formal structure used to state a strong duty or moral obligation.
  • It is incumbent on the company to ensure the safety of its employees.
• "Run against the incumbent": A common political phrase meaning to challenge the current officeholder in an election.
  • She decided to run against the incumbent senator.

Variants and Related Words

• Incumbency (n): The period during which an official holds office; the state of holding an office or duty.
  • During his incumbency, several new policies were introduced.

Synonyms

• Adjective (holding office): Current, present, reigning.
• Adjective (obligatory): Obligatory, mandatory, binding, required.
• Noun: Officeholder, holder, occupant.

Antonyms

• Adjective (holding office): Former, previous, past.
• Noun: Challenger, opponent, candidate.

Adjective

1. currently holding an office
   • the incumbent governor
2. necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility; morally binding
   • it is incumbent on them to pay their own debts
3. lying or leaning on something else
   • an incumbent geological formation

Noun

1. the official who holds an office