pontificate

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

noun

1. the office or term of office of a pontiff.

verb (used without object)

, pon·tif·i·cat·ed, pon·tif·i·cat·ing.

1. to perform the office or duties of a pontiff.
2. to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner:

   Did he pontificate about the responsibilities of a good citizen?

3. to serve as a bishop, especially in a Pontifical Mass.

pontificate

verb

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

noun

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

Other Words From

• pon·tif·i·ca·tion [pon-tif-i-, key, -sh, uh, n], noun
• pon·tif·i·ca·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pontificate¹

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

Example Sentences

Parts of the Pope's trip, which was originally scheduled in 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic, will retrace the steps of St John Paul II, who also visited the four nations during his 27-year pontificate.

From BBC

Early in his pontificate, he made four long-distance trips to the region: to South Korea, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Japan.

From BBC

Francis has made reaching out to migrants a priority of his pontificate and has called for receiving countries, within their means, to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants.

From Seattle Times

In that case, he probably would have been better off just having the trials and allowing himself and his surrogates time to pontificate and demagogue about his persecution and persuade dubious supporters who might be having second thoughts about voting for him..

From Salon

He has been hospitalized two other times during his pontificate for abdominal surgery, including one 10-day stay in 2021 to remove a part of his large intestine.

From Seattle Times