PONTIFICATE Definition & Meaning

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pontificate

[ noun pon-tif-i-kit, -keyt; verb pon-tif-i-keyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the office or term of office of a pontiff.

verb (used without object)

pontificated, pontificating.

to perform the office or duties of a pontiff.
to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner:
Did he pontificate about the responsibilities of a good citizen?
to serve as a bishop, especially in a Pontifical Mass.

pontificate

verb

to speak or behave in a pompous or dogmatic manner Also (less commonly)pontifyˈpɒntɪˌfaɪ
to serve or officiate as a pontiff, esp in celebrating a Pontifical Mass

noun

the office or term of office of a pontiff, now usually the pope

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��ǲ�·�پ��·��·��·�پ��ǲ� [pon-tif-i-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
��ǲ�·�پ��·��·��·�ٴǰ� noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of pontificate¹

First recorded in 1400–50. The noun is from Latin ��ǲԳپ��ھ��ٳܲ�, derivative of pontific- (stem of pontifex ) + -��ٳܲ� noun suffix denoting office or function; pontifex, -ate ³. The verb is from Medieval Latin ��ǲԳپ��ھ��ٳܲ�, past participle of ��ǲԳپ��ھ�� “to be an ecclesiastic”; -ate ¹

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Over the course of his 25 year-long pontificate, John Paul was admitted around 10 times, sometimes for prolonged stays.

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I listened where before I might only have pontificated.

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The actor is refreshingly blasé about his process, not taken to pontificating about how he “finds” a character.

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When he left the Pentagon, he dedicated himself to pontificating on the abundant sins of the Defense Department — and he was mostly right.

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But lately, viewers are likely to also see him pontificating on politics, appearing as a talking head on various news programs including NewsNation’s “Cuomo,” Fox News’ “Hannity” and ABC’s “This Week.”

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