omniscient

[ om-nish-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.

noun

1. an omniscient being.
2. the Omniscient, God.

omniscient

/ ɒmˈnɪsɪənt /

adjective

1. having infinite knowledge or understanding
2. having very great or seemingly unlimited knowledge

Derived Forms

• omˈnisciently, adverb
• omˈniscience, noun

Other Words From

• om·niscient·ly adverb
• unom·niscient adjective
• unom·niscient·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of omniscient¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from New Latin omniscient-, stem of omnisciēns “all-knowing,” from Latin omni- omni- + sciēns “knowing” ( science )

Word History and Origins

Origin of omniscient¹

C17: from Medieval Latin omnisciens, from Latin omni- + scīre to know

Example Sentences

Many filmmakers across the world have experimented with the potential for a camera to record subjectivity, to show a version of a story through the eyes of a character rather than through its more omniscient lens.

From Vox

Near-omniscient views into IT systems are paired with big OT blind spots.

From MIT Technology Review

He develops a symbiotic relationship with the Book, the omniscient voice relating the story we’re reading.

From Time

Dora is seen getting dressed as a mermaid by a cursor being manned by some omniscient game player.

From The Daily Beast

The captions have that jarring omniscient-narrator tone germane to tabloids.

From The Daily Beast

Yet at the same time, there is no topping the radical quality of the Snowden-led rebellion against omniscient rule.

From The Daily Beast

We are dealing here with an unusually omniscient omniscient narrator.

From The Daily Beast

Although it seems omniscient, its very make-up deprives us of access to that knowledge.

From The Daily Beast

Then when the grasp has become sure from this standpoint, he may assume the more difficult role of the omniscient third person.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes they have been unnecessarily sacrificed, since human intelligence is, unfortunately, not omniscient.

From Project Gutenberg

The little shrivelled don who had been omniscient about guns joined in the baiting, and displayed himself a venomous creature.

From Project Gutenberg

When man becomes omniscient and omnipotent there'll be no errors in his judgment or his performance—and not before.

From Project Gutenberg

Not a sparrow falls to the ground, nor an angel wings his flight, but in subserviency to the arrangements of an omniscient mind.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• all-knowing
• all-seeing