pontification Definition
- 1the act of speaking or behaving in a pompous or dogmatic manner
- 2to express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic
Using pontification: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pontification" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The professor's pontification on the subject was met with eye rolls from the students.
Example
He pontificates about politics but never actually does anything to help.
Example
Her constant pontification about her own intelligence was tiresome.
pontification Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with pontification
pontificate from/on high
to speak or behave in a condescending or superior manner
Example
He pontificates from on high about what is best for the company, but he has no idea what it's like to work on the front lines.
pontificate on/about
to express one's opinions in a way that is considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic
Example
He loves to pontificate on the state of the world, but he never actually does anything to try to change it.
pontificate to/at
to speak or behave in a pompous or dogmatic manner towards someone
Example
She always pontificates to her employees about how they should be doing their jobs, but she never actually helps them.
Origins of pontification
from Latin 'pontificatus', meaning 'to make bridges'
Summary: pontification in Brief
'Pontification' [pon-tuh-fi-key-shuhn] refers to the act of speaking or behaving in a pompous or dogmatic manner. It can also mean expressing one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic. The term spans contexts from academic lectures to everyday conversations, as exemplified by 'The professor's pontification on the subject was met with eye rolls from the students.' 'Pontification' extends into phrases like 'pontificate from/on high,' denoting condescension, and 'pontificate on/about,' implying annoyingly dogmatic opinions.
