incumbency

American  

[in-kuhm-buhn-see] / ɪnˈkʌm bən si /

noun

plural

incumbencies

1. the quality or state of being incumbent.

2. the position or term of an incumbent.

3. something that is incumbent.

4. a duty or obligation.

   my incumbencies as head of the organization.

5. Archaic. an incumbent weight or mass.

---

incumbency British  

/ ɪnˈkʌmbənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being incumbent

2. the office, duty, or tenure of an incumbent

---

Etymology

Origin of incumbency

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

Example Sentences

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 • Feb. 28, 2026

“You’ve got a huge incumbency advantage having the megawatts today,” says Energy Capital Partners’ Kimmelman.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 13, 2025

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 • Sep. 5, 2025

His father, till very lately, had but a sort of half stipend, during the incumbency of a certain notorious Mr. MacLagan, to whom he acted only as assistant.

From Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 6 by Lockhart, J. G. (John Gibson)