English · Word Candidate

incumbent

/ɪnˈkʌmb(ə)nt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: incumbents

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Chiefly followed by on or upon: leaning, or lying, reclining, or resting, on something else.

Adjective

Examples

[I]f the great Doore, be Arched, vvith ſome braue Head, cut in fine Stone or Marble for the Key of the Arch, and tvvo Incumbent Figures gracefully leaning vpon it, tovvards one another, as if they meant to conferre; I ſhould thinke this a ſufficient entertainement, for the firſt Reception, of any Iu

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Chiefly followed by on or upon: leaning, or lying, reclining, or resting, on something else. — Of an anther: lying on the inner side of the filament; also, of a cotyledon: having its back lying against the radicle.

Adjective

Examples

[T]he anther either looks inwards or outwards. When it is turned inwards, or is fixed to that side of the filament which looks towards the pistil or centre of the flower, the anther is incumbent or intorse, as in Magnolia and the Water-Lily. When turned outwards, or fixed to the outer side of the fi

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

The current holder of an office or title; (specifically, Christianity) the holder of an ecclesiastical benefice.

Noun

Examples

He has always remained friendly to me, though before his promotion, when he was an incumbent of this diocese, we had a little controversy about the Bible Society.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A holder of a position as supplier to a market or market segment that allows the holder to earn above-normal profits.

Noun

Examples

American capitalism is becoming like its European cousin: established firms with the scale and scope to deal with a growing thicket of regulations are doing well, but new companies are withering on the vine or selling themselves to incumbents.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “incumbent” mean?

Chiefly followed by on or upon: leaning, or lying, reclining, or resting, on something else.

Is “incumbent” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.