Pontificate
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /pɒnˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Pontificate is a noun meaning The status or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.
Meaning
The status or term of office of a pontiff or pontifex.
More Meanings
- (intransitive) To preside as a bishop, especially at mass.
- (intransitive) To act like a pontiff; to express one's position or opinions dogmatically and pompously as if they were absolutely correct.
- (intransitive) To speak in a patronizing, supercilious or pompous manner, especially at length.
Example Sentences
"Do you hear that, Ryan? Your mommy is being a pontificating windbag."
During a policy discussion awhile^([sic]) back about New York issues, when Mr. Clinton began to pontificate, she told him that he did not exactly know what he was talking about and to hush up.
Word Forms
- pontificates
- pontificating
- pontificated
Synonyms for pontificate
Depending on context, synonyms include papacy.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include papacy, orate, rant, pontifician, popehood, popedom.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.