Incumbent Definition

ĭn-kŭmbənt
incumbents
adjective
Imposed as an obligation or duty; obligatory.
Felt it was incumbent on us all to help.
American Heritage
Lying, resting, or pressing with its weight on something else.
Webster's New World
Currently in office.
Webster's New World
noun
incumbents
The holder of an office or benefice.
Webster's New World
(business) A holder of a position as supplier to a market or market segment that allows the holder to earn above-normal profits.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
idiom
incumbent on
  • depending upon as a duty or obligation
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Incumbent

Noun

Singular:
incumbent
Plural:
incumbents

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Incumbent

  • incumbent on

Origin of Incumbent

  • Middle English holder of an office from Medieval Latin incumbēns incumbent- from Latin present participle of incumbere to lean upon, apply oneself to in- on in–2 -cumbere to recline

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English, from stem incumbent-, of Medieval Latin incumbēns (“holder of a church position”), from Latin present participle of incumbō (“I lie down upon”).

    From Wiktionary

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