pontifical n. + Add to list US //pɑnˈtɪfəkəɫ// UK //pəntˈɪfɪkəl// pon·tif·i·cal Literary SynonymsEtymology Synonyms apostolicapostolicalepiscopalgrandiloquentoverblownpapalpompousportentousOrigin Learned borrowing from Latin pontificālis.