incumbent
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incumbent
The person who currently holds a specific public office or official position.
Bei der kommenden Wahl tritt der Amtsinhaber gegen zwei neue Kandidaten an.
In the upcoming election, the incumbent is running against two new candidates.
This word is composed of three parts: 'das Amt' (office/position), the linking 's', and 'der Inhaber' (owner, holder). So an 'Amtsinhaber' (incumbent) is literally a person who 'holds' an office.
Der Inhaber dieses Geschäfts ist sehr freundlich.
The owner of this shop is very friendly.
'Amtsinhaber' (incumbent) is a formal word used mainly in politics, in the news, and in official documents. You would rarely use it in everyday speech.
Die Zeitung interviewte den aktuellen Amtsinhaber zu seinen Plänen.
The newspaper interviewed the current incumbent about his plans.
The word is often used in the context of elections. Typical phrases are 'gegen den Amtsinhaber antreten' (to run against the incumbent), 'der amtierende Amtsinhaber' (the current incumbent), or 'der ehemalige Amtsinhaber' (the former incumbent).
Die neue Kandidatin will den langjährigen Amtsinhaber herausfordern.
The new candidate wants to challenge the longtime incumbent.
civil servant
'der Beamte' and 'der Amtsinhaber' both have to do with public or official duties. But they do not mean the same thing. A 'Beamter' is a person with a special service relationship with the state or a public authority. An 'Amtsinhaber' is the person who currently holds a specific office or official position, for example a mayor or president. The words can be confused because both appear in official contexts. The important point is: 'Beamter' describes professional status, while 'Amtsinhaber' describes who currently holds a specific office.
Der Amtsinhaber möchte bei der nächsten Wahl wieder kandidieren.
The incumbent wants to run again in the next election.
Ein Beamter nahm auf dem Amt meine neue Adresse auf.
A civil servant at the office recorded my new address.