ex cathedra

[eks kuh-thee-druh, kath-i-druh] /ˈɛks kəˈθi drə, ˈkæθ ɪ drə/
noun
1.
from the seat of authority; with authority: used especially of those pronouncements of the pope that are considered infallible.
Origin
1810-20; < Latin ex cathedrā literally, from the chair
Examples from the web for ex cathedra
  • My own complaint is that arguments are presented ex cathedra without adequate peer review or bibliography.
British Dictionary definitions for ex cathedra

ex cathedra

/ɛks kəˈθiːdrə/
adjective, adverb
1.
with authority
2.
(RC Church) (of doctrines of faith or morals) defined by the pope as infallibly true, to be accepted by all Catholics
Word Origin
Latin, literally: from the chair
Word Origin and History for ex cathedra

Latin, literally "from the (teacher's) chair," from ex "out of" (see ex-) + cathedra (see cathedral).

ex cathedra in Culture
ex cathedra [(eks kuh-thee-druh)]

Descriptive term for an official pronouncement from the pope. Ex cathedra is Latin for “from the chair.” Roman Catholics believe that the pope speaks infallibly when speaking ex cathedra on questions of faith or morals, such as when Pope Pius XII declared in 1950 that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was physically taken up to heaven after her death.

Note: Figuratively, any authoritative pronouncement may be called “ex cathedra.”