What does the prefix omni- mean?
Omni- comes from the Latin omnis, which means "all" or "every". It shows totality or universality. It is the prefix of the absolute: all the power, all the knowledge, all the places at once.
ESEN
Prefix · all / everywhere
omni-
Signals all or everywhere: omnipotent, omniscient, omnivore, omnipresent.
Literary
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Omni- in philosophy and technology
In philosophy and theology, omni- appears in the three great attributes given to God: unlimited power, total knowledge and presence everywhere. In modern technology, it is used for strategies that integrate all sales channels and for devices that send or receive in all directions. It is a learned prefix that you will see more in readings and business.
How it is used
Attaches to adjectives and nouns:
- omni- + divine/philosophical attributepotent → omnipotentscient → omniscientpresent → omnipresentbenevolent → omnibenevolent
- omni- + technical/biological nounvore → omnivoredirectional → omnidirectionalchannel → omnichannelbus → omnibus
Pronunciation: /ˈɒmni/. "Omnibus" (= bus) literally means "for all."
How it is pronounced
omni-/ˈɒmni/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With omni-
In a phrase
- potentomnipotentIn theology, God is described as omnipotent, with unlimited power.
- scientomniscientThe novel uses an omniscient narrator who knows every character's thoughts.
- presentomnipresentSmartphones are now so omnipresent that everyone seems to have one.
- voreomnivoreHumans are omnivores who can eat both plants and animals.
- directionalomnidirectionalAn omnidirectional microphone picks up sound equally from all directions.
- channelomnichannelThe retailer adopted an omnichannel strategy across store, web, and mobile.
- busomnibus"Bus" is short for "omnibus," a Latin word meaning "for all."
Common mistakes
omnivore = an animal that eats a lot
omnivore = an animal that eats both plants and other animals (all types of food)
"Omnivore" refers to dietary variety, not quantity. An omnivore can eat both plants and animals. The opposite categories are "herbivore" (plants only) and "carnivore" (meat only). The suffix "-vore" comes from Latin "vorare" (to devour).
omniscient = someone very intelligent or well-informed
omniscient = knowing absolutely everything; complete and perfect knowledge without any limitation
"Omniscient" implies total, unlimited knowledge. A person can be very intelligent or well-informed, but not omniscient. The term is reserved for divine beings in theology or for the "omniscient narrator" in literature, who knows all characters' thoughts and all events in the story.
A trick to remember it
Think of a being who is all-powerful and everywhere: omni- = all. omnivore, omniscient.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"The novel uses an ___ narrator who knows every character's thoughts, fears, and hidden motivations."
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
Where does the word "bus" come from and what does it literally mean?
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix omni- mean in English?
The prefix omni- signals all or everywhere: omnipotent, omniscient, omnivore, omnipresent.
How do you pronounce omni-?
The prefix omni- is pronounced /ˈɒmni/. For example, "omnipotent".
Can you give an example of a word with omni-?
"potent" becomes "omnipotent". It is a typical example of the omni- prefix.
Other useful prefixes
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