I. pon ‧ tif ‧ i ‧ cate 1 /pɒnˈtɪfəkeɪt, pɒnˈtɪfɪkeɪt $ pɑːn-/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
to give your opinion about something in a way that shows you think you are always right
pontificate about/on
Politicians are always pontificating about education.
II. pon ‧ tif ‧ i ‧ cate 2 /pɒnˈtɪfɪkət, pɒnˈtɪfɪkɪt $ pɑːn-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
the position or period of being Pope