Final answer:
Pontification is the act of expressing opinions in a pompous or dogmatic manner, resembling an authoritative figure such as a pontiff but often used negatively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term pontification refers to the act of speaking or expressing opinions in a pompous or dogmatic way. It is often associated with someone who is acting like a pontiff — a pope or bishop — who makes declarations in an authoritative manner. However, it is generally used in a negative sense to describe someone who is speaking in a manner that is overly authoritative or out of a sense of unwarranted importance.
The word is derived from the term 'pontiff,' which refers to a high-ranking member of the Catholic Church. When someone 'pontificates,' they are behaving in a way that suggests they have great authority or knowledge, and they may often be speaking at length without considering the opinions or expertise of others.