incumbency

[ in-kuhm-buhn-see ]

noun

, plural in·cum·ben·cies

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

/ ɪnˈkʌmbənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being incumbent
2. the office, duty, or tenure of an incumbent

Word History and Origins

Origin of incumbency¹

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

Example Sentences

The likelihood of Robinhood turning those traders into profit-generating, long-term customers seems uncertain—especially given the incumbency and deep pockets of its competitors.

From Fortune

Retirements and primary losses have left five of the nine GOP toss-up seats open, which helps Democrats even if the incumbency advantage isn’t what it once was.

From FiveThirtyEight

Moreover, Democrats are mostly aiming to defeat Republican incumbents, and even though the incumbency advantage has diminished in recent years, it’s rare that you can take much for granted in races featuring incumbents.

From FiveThirtyEight

The Classic version relies on polling but also incorporates “fundamentals” such as fundraising, incumbency and a state’s partisan lean relative to the rest of the country.

From FiveThirtyEight

We combine the predictions of both party-oriented and incumbency model, as well as polling averages, for our final House predictions.

From Ozy

The benefits of incumbency are quite potent, especially in the all-important area of raising campaign funds.

From The Daily Beast

We need constitutional amendments for term limits, to abolish incumbency, to abolish private money in campaigns.

From The Daily Beast

The President, in his incumbency, didn't have to do a thing to own the middle ground.

From The Daily Beast

For Romney, however, giving poor people health care represents “the power of incumbency.”

From The Daily Beast

Even with all of the advantages of incumbency, President Obama is vulnerable.

From The Daily Beast

This “in memoriam” act was done out of affection and not because the incumbency was changing hands.

From Project Gutenberg

After his return from India he had settled in the incumbency of Ham, and I never can forget his first visit to me.

From Project Gutenberg

Two years later he was appointed to the joint incumbency of the Octagon Chapel, Bath.

From Project Gutenberg

Notwithstanding the poverty of his parish, Mr. Isaacs raised as much as 25,000 for various objects during his incumbency.

From Project Gutenberg

In the incumbency of the sheriff's office, for example, there has been an interesting alternation in parties since 1875.

From Project Gutenberg