outgoing incumbent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'outgoing incumbent' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used in the context of politics to refer to a leader who is leaving office or their position. For example, "The outgoing incumbent President was very popular among voters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The outgoing incumbent may have comedy appeal, but this is no joke job.

The Guardian

The outgoing incumbent, Douglas Wilder, who in 1989 became the first black ever to be elected governor of any state, compiled a solid record in office.

The New Yorker

" Huge secrecy surrounds Doctor Who's 50th birthday show, which will see the return of Tennant and his companion Billie Piper, alongside the outgoing incumbent Matt Smith and special guest star John Hurt.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In chronological order, but arguably in ascending order of Bigness: Robert F. Wagner, Jr., (elected 1954); Edward I. Koch (1977); Rudolph W. Giuliani (1993); and the outgoing incumbent, Michael R. Bloomberg (2001).

The New Yorker

Further, she faced a rival with one of the best-known names in Bronx politics: Pedro Gautier Espada, a former assemblyman and councilman whose father was the outgoing incumbent.

The New York Times

With presidents limited to one term of six years, the outgoing incumbent has made an 11th-hour attempt to block Duterte by attempting to gather candidates around his preferred successor, Manuel "Mar" Roxas, the grandson of a former president.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Whether or not it wins Oscars, this certainly marks a new and resonant low in relations between Hollywood and the outgoing presidential incumbent.

The Guardian - Film

Unlike outgoing BOJ incumbent Masaaki Shirakawa, he has advocated bolder and swifter monetary easing actions including buying more risk assets and/or more longer-dated government debt and has underscored that commitment by promising to do whatever it takes to hit the BOJ's newly installed inflation target of 2percentt.

Forbes

Will the successors to these outgoing conservative incumbents support the President so loyally?

The Washington Post

Those outgoing rulers and incumbents want to protect their own lives and welfare, avoiding accountability for human rights violations and political repression.

The Washington Post

His incumbent, the outgoing President Abdoulaye Wade, claimed that he lost because the Senegalese diaspora living in "Western countries campaigned against him .2 To which extent did absent citizens influence this presidential election?

Comparative Migration Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about political transitions, ensure clarity by specifying the exact role the "outgoing incumbent" held (e.g., "outgoing incumbent president", "outgoing incumbent senator") to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "outgoing incumbent" without context. Readers unfamiliar with the specific political system may not understand the role being vacated. Provide brief context or role clarification to ensure broader comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outgoing incumbent" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI indicates, it commonly appears in political contexts to identify a leader transitioning out of office.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outgoing incumbent" is a noun phrase commonly used in political contexts to refer to an individual who is currently holding a position but is in the process of leaving office. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media sources. Related phrases include "departing officeholder" and "former officeholder". When using this phrase, it's best practice to specify the role being vacated for clarity. While its register is neutral, providing context about the political role is key to ensuring broader understanding. This helps avoid assuming that all readers know the exact role in context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

departing officeholder

Replaces "outgoing" with "departing" and "incumbent" with "officeholder", maintaining the same meaning.

incumbent leaving office

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the incumbent's departure.

leaving incumbent

Emphasizes the act of leaving the position, rather than the state of being outgoing.

out of office incumbent

Slightly alters the phrasing while retaining the core meaning.

former officeholder

Shifts the focus to the person's status after leaving office.

transitioning leader

Emphasizes the process of changing leadership.

predecessor

Refers to the person who held the position before the current one; implies a direct succession.

retiring official

Highlights the act of retirement, implying a voluntary departure.

ex-incumbent

A more concise term indicating someone who formerly held the position.

previous administration

Focuses on the entire governing body that is leaving power.

FAQs

What does "outgoing incumbent" mean?

The term "outgoing incumbent" refers to the person who is currently holding a particular office but is about to leave that position, often due to the end of their term, resignation, or electoral defeat.

How do you use "outgoing incumbent" in a sentence?

Example: "The "outgoing incumbent" offered advice to the newly elected official during the transition period."

What are some alternatives to "outgoing incumbent"?

Depending on the context, you could use terms like "departing officeholder", "leaving incumbent", or "former officeholder".

Is it redundant to say "outgoing incumbent"?

While "incumbent" implies the person is currently holding office, "outgoing" clarifies that they are in the process of leaving. The combination emphasizes the transition and is not necessarily redundant, especially when clarity is needed.