INCUMBENT
Dictionary entry overview: What does incumbent mean?
• INCUMBENT (noun)
The noun INCUMBENT has 1 sense:
1. the official who holds an office
Familiarity information: INCUMBENT used as a noun is very rare.
• INCUMBENT (adjective)
The adjective INCUMBENT has 3 senses:
1. lying or leaning on something else
2. necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility; morally binding
3. currently holding an office
Familiarity information: INCUMBENT used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• INCUMBENT (noun)
Meaning:
The official who holds an office
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
incumbent; officeholder
Hypernyms ("incumbent" is a kind of...):
functionary; official (a worker who holds or is invested with an office)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "incumbent"):
office-bearer (the person who holds an office)
• INCUMBENT (adjective)
Meaning:
Lying or leaning on something else
Context example:
an incumbent geological formation
Similar:
superjacent (lying immediately above or on something else)
Domain category:
geology (a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks)
Meaning:
Necessary (for someone) as a duty or responsibility; morally binding
Context example:
it is incumbent on them to pay their own debts
Similar:
necessary (absolutely essential)
Meaning:
Currently holding an office
Context example:
the incumbent governor
Similar:
current (occurring in or belonging to the present time)
