Synonyms

incumbency

American

[in-kuhm-buhn-see] / ɪnˈkʌm bən si /

noun

plural

incumbencies

the quality or state of being incumbent.
the position or term of an incumbent.
something that is incumbent.
a duty or obligation.

my incumbencies as head of the organization.
Archaic. an incumbent weight or mass.

incumbency British

/ ɪnˈkʌmbənsɪ /

noun

the state or quality of being incumbent
the office, duty, or tenure of an incumbent

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of incumbency

First recorded in 1600–10; incumb(ent) + -ency

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But she also noted that Mastercard and Visa have “two-sided networks across billions of consumers and hundreds of millions of merchants” that confer major incumbency advantages.

From MarketWatch

“Action from policy makers has been nonexistent, timid or ineffectual. In tandem, corporate Canada has become beset by contentment and incumbency.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Miyares, whose mother fled Cuba, has the advantage of incumbency.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jimmy Carter’s appearance became more diminutive during his incumbency, but his teeth became bigger; Ronald Reagan’s face went from smiling to hollowed and ghostly.

From Salon

Now in his 11th two-year term, Green’s de facto incumbency could be difficult for any newcomer to overcome.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023