Incumbency: meaning, definitions and examples
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incumbency
[ ɪnˈkʌm.bən.si ]
political term
Incumbency refers to the holding of an office or the period during which one is in office. It is often used in the context of political positions, such as elected officials who currently occupy a seat in a legislative assembly or other offices.
Synonyms
officeholding, position, tenure.
Examples of usage
- The incumbent won the election by a large margin.
- During her incumbency, she implemented several important reforms.
- The advantages of incumbency often include greater visibility and access to funding.
- Incumbency can create a significant barrier for challengers in elections.
Translations
Translations of the word "incumbency" in other languages:
🇵🇹 incumbência
🇮🇳 पदधारण
🇩🇪 Amtsinhaber
🇮🇩 jabatan
🇺🇦 обіймання посади
🇵🇱 pełnienie urzędu
🇯🇵 在職期間
🇫🇷 incumbence
🇪🇸 incumbencia
🇹🇷 görev süresi
🇰🇷 재임
🇸🇦 تولي المنصب
🇨🇿 úřadování
🇸🇰 úradovanie
🇨🇳 在职
🇸🇮 zasedanje
🇮🇸 setu
🇰🇿 лауазым
🇬🇪 ხელმძღვანელობა
🇦🇿 vəzifə
🇲🇽 incumbencia
Etymology
The term 'incumbency' originated from the Latin word 'incumbere', which means 'to occupy' or 'to lie upon'. The prefix 'in-' suggests a position of being in or on something, while 'cumbere' comes from 'cubare', meaning 'to lie down'. Historically, the term was used in various contexts but became closely associated with the political landscape in the 19th century, particularly in relation to the holding of government office. Over time, 'incumbency' has come to be specifically linked with politicians who are currently holding a position in government, emphasizing their existing authority and the advantages they possess in elections due to name recognition and established connections. The concept of incumbency highlights the dynamics of power and the electoral process, influencing the strategies of both incumbents and challengers.