omniscient

adjective

om·​ni·​scient äm-ˈni-shənt 

1

: having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight

an omniscient author

the narrator seems an omniscient person who tells us about the characters and their relations

—Ira Konigsberg

2

: possessed of universal or complete knowledge

the omniscient God

omnisciently adverb

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What is the origin of omniscient?

One who is omniscient literally knows all. The word omniscient traces back to two Latin roots: omni-, meaning "all" or "universally," and the noun scientia, meaning "knowledge." You will recognize omni- as the prefix that tells all in such words as omnivorous ("eating all," or in actual use, "eating both plants and animals") and omnipotent ("all-powerful"). Scientia comes from the Latin verb scīre, meaning "to know," which likewise has a number of other knowledge-related descendants in English, including conscience, science, and prescience (meaning "foreknowledge").

Examples of omniscient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Suddenly, as if some omniscient observer had pressed play, the scene roared to life. —Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025

Where most of his music casts his omniscient people-watching as a superpower, here his constant witnessing is punishing. —Stephen Kearse, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025

No longer was the audience in its familiar seat of omniscient spectator, denying the editor the ability to crosscut and seamlessly switch perspectives across the action. —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 17 Jan. 2025

The fine wine and fine dining event is being double-teamed by resplendent resort The Boca Raton and oenophile omniscient Napa Valley Vintners of California. Related Articles South Florida Bacon & Brunch Fest brings the sizzle to Boca Raton … with $5-or-less menus! —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin omniscient-, omnisciens, back-formation from Medieval Latin omniscientia

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

omniscient

adjective

om·​ni·​scient äm-ˈnish-ənt 

: knowing everything

omnisciently adverb

Etymology

from modern Latin omniscient-, omnisciens "knowing all things, all-knowing," derived from omni- (from omnis "all") and scient-, sciens "knowing," from scire "to know" — related to science