Incumbant vs. Incumbent — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 29, 2024
"Incumbant" is a misspelling; "incumbent" is correct, referring to an officeholder or a duty's holder.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Incumbant or Incumbent
How to spell Incumbent?
Incumbant
Incorrect Spelling
Incumbent
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Recall other words with "-ent" endings, like "resident" or "persistent."
"Incumbent" resembles "income," both having no "a" after the "m."
Link the word with political office: presidents and senators are "incumbents," not "incumbants."
Remember that "cumbent" means "lying down," not "cumbant."
Think of "in-come-bent": the officeholder in place until they are bent out by a successor.
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How Do You Spell Incumbent Correctly?
Incorrect: It is the incumant of the new manager to improve team efficiency.
Correct: It is the incumbent of the new manager to improve team efficiency.
Incorrect: Incumbant upon us to support our local businesses during this time.
Correct: Incumbent upon us to support our local businesses during this time.
Incorrect: The role of the incumant in facilitating change cannot be understated.
Correct: The role of the incumbent in facilitating change cannot be understated.
Incorrect: The incumant mayor is facing a tough re-election campaign.
Correct: The incumbent mayor is facing a tough re-election campaign.
Incorrect: Many voters are undecided about the incumant candidate.
Correct: Many voters are undecided about the incumbent candidate.
Incumbent Definitions
Incumbent denotes something lying flat on something else.
The incumbent leaves covered the ground.
Incumbent may signify an advantage held by the existing way of doing things.
New technologies often have to overcome incumbent inertia.
Incumbent sometimes indicates a company that dominates an industry or market.
The small startup challenged the incumbent firm.
Incumbent is an individual currently holding a particular position or office.
The incumbent mayor is seeking re-election.
Incumbent can refer to a duty or responsibility that is obligatory.
It's incumbent upon us to act responsibly.
Imposed as an obligation or duty; obligatory
Felt it was incumbent on us all to help.
Lying, leaning, or resting on something else
Incumbent rock strata.
Currently holding a specified office
The incumbent mayor.
A person who holds an office or ecclesiastical benefice
The incumbent was reelected to another term.
(Used with "on" or "upon") Imposed on someone as an obligation, especially due to one's office.
Proper behavior is incumbent on all holders of positions of trust.
Lying; resting; reclining; recumbent.
Prevalent, prevailing, predominant.
Resting on something else; in botany, said of anthers when lying on the inner side of the filament, or of cotyledons when the radicle lies against the back of one of them
(zoology) Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest on, something else.
The incumbent toe of a bird
Being the current holder of an office or a title.
If the incumbent senator dies, he is replaced by a person appointed by the governor.
The current holder of an office, such as ecclesiastical benefice or an elected office.
(business) A holder of a position as supplier to a market or market segment that allows the holder to earn above-normal profits.
Lying; resting; reclining; recumbent; superimposed; superincumbent.
Two incumbent figures, gracefully leaning upon it.
To move the incumbent load they try.
Lying, resting, or imposed, as a duty or obligation; obligatory; always with on or upon.
All men, truly zealous, will perform those good works that are incumbent on all Christians.
Leaning or resting; - said of anthers when lying on the inner side of the filament, or of cotyledons when the radicle lies against the back of one of them.
Bent downwards so that the ends touch, or rest on, something else; as, the incumbent toe of a bird.
A person who is in present possession of a benefice or of any office.
The incumbent lieth at the mercy of his patron.
The official who holds an office
Lying or leaning on something else;
An incumbent geological formation
Currently holding an office;
The incumbent governor
Incumbent Meaning in a Sentence
She has been the incumbent in the office for the past four years.
The incumbent senator is well-known for her work on environmental issues.
The incumbent president has announced plans to run for a second term.
Voters will decide whether the incumbent or the challenger will best serve their interests.
Challenging an incumbent often requires a significant amount of resources and support.
As the incumbent, he holds a significant advantage in name recognition.
Being the incumbent comes with the responsibility of defending one's accomplishments.
The debate between the challenger and the incumbent drew a large audience.
The incumbent has a track record of bipartisan cooperation in the legislature.
Re-election campaigns offer the incumbent an opportunity to highlight their achievements.
For the incumbent, delivering on campaign promises is crucial for re-election.
The benefits of being the incumbent include greater media exposure and fundraising capabilities.
In the role of incumbent, she has pushed for numerous legislative changes.
The challenge for the incumbent is to remain responsive and adaptable to changing circumstances.
The incumbent is facing criticism for her handling of recent crises.
Challengers to the incumbent are emerging, signaling a potentially contentious race.
The incumbent is working to maintain support among key constituencies.
Incumbent Idioms & Phrases
Incumbent advantage
The benefits that current officeholders have over challengers in an election.
The incumbent advantage can play a significant role in election outcomes.
Incumbent responsibilities
The duties and tasks that are expected of someone currently holding a position.
The incumbent responsibilities of the mayor include ensuring public safety.
Incumbent upon
Necessary or obligatory for someone.
It is incumbent upon all of us to vote in the election.
Common Curiosities
What is the root word of incumbent?
From Latin "incumbere."
Which conjunction is used with incumbent?
Standard conjunctions can be used depending on the context, like "and" or "but."
Why is it called incumbent?
It derives from Latin "incumbere," meaning "to lie down upon," which signifies "holding a position."
What is the pronunciation of incumbent?
Pronounced as /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/.
Which preposition is used with incumbent?
"Upon" as in "incumbent upon."
What is the verb form of incumbent?
The verb is "incumb," but it's archaic and rarely used.
What is the singular form of incumbent?
"Incumbent."
Which vowel is used before incumbent?
The letter "a" as in "an incumbent."
Which article is used with incumbent?
"An" as in "an incumbent."
Is incumbent an adverb?
No.
What is the plural form of incumbent?
"Incumbents."
How do we divide incumbent into syllables?
In-cum-bent.
What is a stressed syllable in incumbent?
The second syllable, "cum."
What part of speech is incumbent?
It can be both a noun and an adjective.
What is the first form of incumbent?
Not applicable for verb forms.
What is the third form of incumbent?
Not applicable.
What is the second form of incumbent?
Not applicable.
Is incumbent a noun or adjective?
It can be both a noun and an adjective.
Is incumbent a negative or positive word?
It is neutral but context can influence its connotation.
Is the word incumbent imperative?
No.
What is another term for incumbent?
Officeholder.
How is incumbent used in a sentence?
"The incumbent senator faces a tough re-election campaign."
Is incumbent a countable noun?
Yes, e.g., "There are several incumbents in the race."
Is incumbent a collective noun?
No.
Which determiner is used with incumbent?
Determiners like "this," "that," "my," etc.
Is incumbent an abstract noun?
When referring to responsibility, it can be considered abstract.
Is incumbent a vowel or consonant?
"Incumbent" is a word containing both vowels and consonants.
Is the incumbent term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but can be used metaphorically in context.
How many syllables are in incumbent?
Three syllables.
What is the opposite of incumbent?
Challenger or contender.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
