incumbent
/ɪnˈkʌm.bənt/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
official or necessary because of a duty, rule, or situation. It often describes something that is expected or required in a job or role.
- It is incumbent on managers to explain the rules.
- The company has an incumbent duty to protect data.
- Safety checks are incumbent before opening the site.
noun
the person who currently holds an important job or position, especially before an election or a change in office.
- The incumbent won another five-year term.
- The incumbent faces a strong challenger this year.
- Voters often compare the incumbent with new candidates.
Adinary Nuance
Incumbent is more formal than must or necessary. It often sounds stronger and more official than required, especially in legal, academic, or business writing. As a noun, it usually means the current office-holder, not just any worker in a role. This is why incumbent is common in elections and formal reports, but less common in everyday speech.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- người đương nhiệm
- Spanish
- titular
- Chinese
- 现任者
- Japanese
- 現職者
- Korean
- 현직자
Etymology
From Latin incumbere, meaning 'to lean on' or 'lie upon'. English first used it in the 1600s, and the idea of a duty 'lying on' someone shaped its meaning.
Common phrases
incumbent on someonethe incumbent governmentthe incumbent presidentthe incumbent office-holder
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is incumbent a formal word?
- Yes. It is formal and common in legal, academic, and political writing.
- What is the difference between incumbent and required?
- Required is more direct and everyday. Incumbent sounds more official and often appears in formal contexts.
- Does incumbent always mean a person in power?
- No. As an adjective, it can also mean something is a duty or obligation.
- How do I use incumbent in a sentence?
- Use it for formal duties or for the person already holding a position.