The term pontificate, like many other words, means different things depending on the context in which it is used. Pontificate can be used to refer to various aspects of pontifical duties or the office, or term of office, for a pontiff such as the Pope or a Bishop. Generally, it describes the administration of such an office. In this case, the function of the word pontificate is to act as a noun.

To pontificate also means to speak in dogmatic or inflexible terms. In this case as well as the following description, the function of the word is an intransitive verb, or one that does not take an object. This method of speaking is utilized frequently in political and other ideological discussions or debates, although it is often regarded as a religious characteristic. Priests, reverends, ministers, rabbis, imams, clerics, and other members of the clergy are prone to pontificate, in this narrow sense. Since most religious doctrines are static, rather than changing with the times and abandoning their core principles, a dogmatic approach is generally accepted and even embraced.

The word pontificate is also commonly used to describe a supercilious or patronizing expression of speech. Other terms that effectively describe one who tends to pontificate are pompous, haughty, ostentatious, and condescending. This approach to speech making or lecturing is often meant to demean those that have a different opinion, or in essence is used to make them feel inferior for not agreeing with the “enlightened” perspective of the person speaking.

It is not unusual to hear exaggerated rhetoric from speakers known to pontificate during campaign speeches. For example, liberalism and conservatism are conflicting ideologies, and both factions are aggressive in their attempts to sway public opinion. The voting base of either philosophy will likely applaud as their leaders pontificate while the other side will tend to interpret the remarks or comments as condescending, closed-minded, or both.

The brazen approach may not appear to be very effective, but it often rallies the base and also sways some voters who until that point were undecided. Speaking passionately can often give the impression of speaking from the heart, whether or not this is true. The campaigner who chooses to pontificate may swing some votes, but won’t likely sway anyone who holds a completely opposite political view. In fact, many will be turned off by a pompous recitation of opposing political ideals.