incumbency

noun

in·​cum·​ben·​cy in-ˈkəm-bən(t)-sē How to pronounce incumbency (audio)
plural incumbencies
1
: the sphere of action or period of office of an incumbent
2
: the quality or state of being incumbent
3
: something that is incumbent : duty

Examples of incumbency in a Sentence

Hundreds of new jobs were created during her incumbency. the advantages of incumbency during an election a politician seeking to keep his incumbency
Recent Examples on the Web In the end, given Biden's post-LBJ advantages of incumbency, no major Democrat has been able to pull enough support from the president. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 There’s also the threat from China, which has less ICE incumbency to worry about in its home market and is transitioning to EVs at a rate of knots. James Morris, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024 Despite his incumbency, Burkhart’s grip on his seat is tenuous. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2024 That allows the successor to later run for election to a full term with the advantage of incumbency and, consequently, the likelihood of no challenger. Mercury News Editorial, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 The power of incumbency goes beyond the advantages in campaign resources. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2024 District 4 – no recommendation One cannot overstate the advantage of incumbency in politics. East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2024 There’s a reason that Germany, keen to preserve the advantages of incumbency enjoyed by its automakers against the threat posed by Chinese EVs, insisted on securing an exemption from the EU ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine cards from 2035. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 11 Feb. 2024 In November, voters will pick the winner who, given the power of incumbency, will likely represent a key part of Silicon Valley for years to come. Mercury News Editorial, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incumbency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1608, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of incumbency was circa 1608

Dictionary Entries Near incumbency

Cite this Entry

“Incumbency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incumbency. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

incumbency

noun
in·​cum·​ben·​cy in-ˈkəm-bən-sē How to pronounce incumbency (audio)
plural incumbencies
: the time during which a person holds an office or position

More from Merriam-Webster on incumbency

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!