• "Incumbant" is the incorrect spelling of "incumbent."
  • As a noun, "incumbent" refers to the current holder of a specific office or position. As an adjective, it describes something that is obligatory or imposed as a duty.
For example...

❌ The incumbant mayor, having served two terms, is seeking re-election in the upcoming municipal elections.

✅ The incumbent mayor, having served two terms, is seeking re-election in the upcoming municipal elections.

In this sentence, "incumbent" functions as a noun and refers to the current holder of the mayoral office. The sentence suggests that the current mayor, who has already served two terms, is now running for re-election in the upcoming municipal elections.

Incumbent

1. Noun

  • Most common: The current holder of an office or position, especially an elected one. In an election context, the incumbent is the person currently occupying the position that is up for vote, regardless of whether they are seeking re-election.
  • Broader: Anyone currently holding a particular position, role, or office, not necessarily elected.
  • Archaic: Something resting, lying, or pressing upon something else.

2. Adjective

  • Occupying a specified office. (e.g., "The incumbent mayor delivered a speech.")
  • Obligatory or required. (e.g., "It is incumbent upon us to act responsibly.")

Note: The most common usage of "incumbent" is in the context of elections.

Etymology

From Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin incumbere "to lean or lie upon."
Incumbant vs. Incumbent: Which is Correct?

Examining the graph below, we can see a difference between the frequency of use for the words "incumbent" and "incumbant." The use of the word "incumbent" has steadily decreased since the 1800s.

How do we pronounce incumbent?

In American English, "incumbent" is pronounced uhn·kuhm·bnt.

In British English, "incumbent" is pronounced uhng·kuhm·bnt.

Additional notes:
These are just the standard pronunciations, and there may be slight variations depending on regional accents and individual speech patterns.
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Why does the misspelling of incumbent as incumbant occur?

The misspelling of "incumbent" as "incumbant" can occur for several reasons.

1. Lack of familiarity: People unfamiliar with the word "incumbent" might not know the correct spelling and attempt to guess based on pronunciation or similar words.

2. Autocorrect errors: Autocorrect features in typing software sometimes make unexpected changes, and depending on the specific algorithm, it's possible for "incumbent" to be incorrectly changed to "incumbant."

Enlist the help of an AI proofreader to prevent your written work from having any grammatical errors.

Other misspellings of incumbent

Below are other common misspellings of "incumbent" other than "incumbant."

  1. Incumbint
  2. Incumbunt
  3. Incumbenet
  4. Incumbentt
  5. Incumbanct

Example sentences of the misspelling of incumbent as incumbant

Below are example sentences highlighting that “incumbent” is an incorrect spelling.

  1. The correct spelling is "incumbent," not "incumbant."
  2. Please use "incumbent" instead of "incumbant" for accurate representation.
  3. It's important to note that the right way to spell it is "incumbent," not "incumbant."
  4. Ensure proper usage by writing "incumbent" rather than "incumbant."
  5. The accepted spelling is "incumbent," and avoiding "incumbant" is crucial for clear communication.

Example sentences of incumbent

  1. The incumbent mayor is seeking re-election to continue the city's progress.
  2. As the incumbent CEO, she has led the company through a period of significant growth.
  3. Voters will decide whether to retain the incumbent governor for another term.
  4. The incumbent president outlined their achievements during the campaign rally.
  5. Having served as the incumbent for two years, he remains committed to community development.
  6. The incumbent senator faced strong opposition in the upcoming election.
  7. The incumbent chairman has been instrumental in implementing new policies for the organization.
  8. As the incumbent team captain, she led her squad to victory in the championship.
  9. The incumbent treasurer highlighted fiscal responsibility as a key focus in the campaign.
  10. The incumbent council members presented their achievements at the town hall meeting.

Synonyms of incumbent

  1. Holder
  2. Occupant
  3. Officeholder
  4. Office-bearer
  5. Officeholder
  6. Tenant
  7. Possessor
  8. Keeper
  9. Steward
  10. Representative

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Incumbant vs. Incumbent: Which is Correct?

References:

Definition of INCUMBENT
the holder of an office or ecclesiastical benefice; one that occupies a particular position or place… See the full definition
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Incumbant vs. Incumbent: Which is Correct?