incumbent

Everyday

1. (formal) The incumbent is the person who holds an official job right now, such as a president, mayor or member of parliament. tree →
2. (formal) Incumbent on or upon you means it is your duty: if it is incumbent on you to do something, you must do it. tree →
3. (church) The incumbent of a parish is the priest or vicar in charge of it. tree →

In the lessons

Mostly heard in news about elections: «the incumbent mayor», «the incumbent won again», «defeat the incumbent». In exam and formal writing: «it is incumbent upon all pupils to…». In church life, the vicar or rector of a parish is its incumbent. It tells the reader who already holds the post, as opposed to the challenger who wants it.

Examples

• The incumbent mayor is standing for election again. tree →
• The challenger beat the incumbent by two hundred votes. tree →
• It is incumbent upon every visitor to sign the book at the front desk. tree →
• The incumbent president gave a speech on television. tree →
• The parish has had the same incumbent for many years. tree →
• As class captain, it was incumbent on Mia to help new pupils. tree →
• Voters were unhappy with the incumbent government. tree →

Note

Formal word; children rarely say it. As an adjective it usually comes before a noun («the incumbent leader») or in the phrase «incumbent on/upon». Do not confuse with «encumber» (to weigh down). Opposite in elections: challenger.