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incumbent

 - 5 dictionary results

in⋅cum⋅bent

  [in-kuhm-buhnt]
Use incumbent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. holding an indicated position, role, office, etc., currently: the incumbent officers of the club.
2. obligatory (often fol. by on or upon): a duty incumbent upon me.
3. Archaic. resting, lying, leaning, or pressing on something: incumbent upon the cool grass.
–noun
4. the holder of an office: The incumbent was challenged by a fusion candidate.
5. British. a person who holds an ecclesiastical benefice.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME (n.) < L incumbent- (s. of incumbēns prp. of incumbere to lie or lean upon, equiv. to in- in- 2 + cumb- (nasalized var. of cub- sit, lie; see incubus ) + -ent- -ent

Related forms:
in⋅cum⋅bent⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To incumbent
in·cum·bent   (ĭn-kŭm'bənt)   
adj.  

  1. Imposed as an obligation or duty; obligatory: felt it was incumbent on us all to help.

  2. Lying, leaning, or resting on something else: incumbent rock strata.

  3. Currently holding a specified office: the incumbent mayor.

n.  A person who holds an office or ecclesiastical benefice: The incumbent was reelected to another term.

[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; see in-2 + -cumbere, to recline.]
in·cum'bent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

incumbent [(in-kum-buhnt)]

One who holds a public office. By virtue of their experience in office, their exposure to the public, and their ability to raise campaign funds, incumbents usually have a significant advantage over opponents if they choose to run for reelection.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

incumbent 
c.1410, from M.L. incumbentem (nom. incumbens) "holder of a church position," from prp. of incumbere "to obtain or possess," from L. incumbere "recline on, apply oneself to," from in- "on" + -combere "lie down," related to cubare "lie." Extended to holders of any office from 1672.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

Incumbent

An individual that is responsible for a specific office within a corporation.

Investopedia Commentary

All incumbents of an organization, such as directors and officers, are listed on an incumbency certificate.

Related Links

The Basics Of Corporate Structure
Evaluating A Company's Management

See also: Chief Executive Officer - CEO, Chief Financial Officer - CFO, Corporation, Incumbency Certificate

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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