pontifical

1 of 2

noun

pon·​tif·​i·​cal pän-ˈti-fi-kəl 

1

: episcopal attire

specifically : the insignia of the episcopal order worn by a prelate when celebrating a pontifical mass

—usually used in plural

2

: a book containing the forms for sacraments and rites performed by a bishop

pontifical

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of or relating to a pontiff or pontifex

b

: celebrated by a prelate of episcopal rank with distinctive ceremonies

pontifical mass

2

: pompous

3

: pretentiously dogmatic

pontifically

pän-ˈti-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Adjective

• doctrinaire
• dogmatic
• dogmatical
• opinionated
• opinionative
• opinioned
• self-opinionated

Examples of pontifical in a Sentence

Adjective

a theater critic known for his pontifical pronouncements on what is or is not worth seeing

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The prose is confiding and, in places, pontifical. —Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2020

That revelation, coupled with other recent pontifical critiques, have quickly dissolved the notion that the Dec. 31 death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a symbolic leader of the church’s conservative wing, might lessen the opposition to Francis. —Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2023

Because of its original purpose, however, the building also has its peculiarities: the pontifical horses lived in grand style on two levels of soaring stalls, connected by a monumental, gently sloping ramp of travertine bricks. —Ingrid D. Rowland, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020

The prevailing view of Wordsworth—pontifical, orthodox, austere—was entrenched by the Victorians, who praised him for the very qualities the Younger Romantics had mocked. —Matthew Bevis, Harper's Magazine, 23 June 2020

Lifting the rule of pontifical secrecy does not clarify church official’s obligations to comply with such requests. —Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2020

The Vatican had previously argued that the imposition of pontifical secrecy was necessary to protect both victim and accused. —BostonGlobe.com, 18 Dec. 2019

Critics said the pontifical secret was used to keep the scandal hidden, prevent police from acquiring internal documentation and silence victims. —Nicole Winfield, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Dec. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin pontificale, from neuter of pontificalis

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin pontificalis, from pontific-, pontifex

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a