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ex cathedra

/ˈɛks kəˌθidrə/
IPA guide

When someone speaks ex cathedra, they’re making an official, authoritative statement, often with the weight of a leader or expert behind it.

The phrase ex cathedra comes from Latin: ex means "from" and cathedra means "chair." Originally, it referred to a bishop speaking with authority from his official seat. Today, it’s used to describe any declaration made with official power, often in a formal or authoritative context. Such statements are intended to be taken seriously, reflecting the speaker's position of authority and the expectation that their words carry significant influence.

Definitions of ex cathedra
  1. adverb
    with the full authority of the office
    “the pope must speak ex cathedra for an encyclical to be infallible”
  2. adjective
    announced or proclaimed with the full authority of the office
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