omnibus

1 of 2

noun

om·​ni·​bus ˈäm-ni-(ˌ)bəs 

1

: a usually automotive public vehicle designed to carry a large number of passengers : bus

took a seat on the omnibus

2

: a book containing reprints of a number of works (as of a single author or on a single subject)

The omnibus contained all of the author's short stories.

omnibus

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or providing for many things at once

2

: containing or including many items

an omnibus bill

Did you know?

The adjective omnibus may not have much to do with public transportation, but the noun omnibus certainly does—it not only means "bus," but it's also the word English speakers shortened to form bus. The noun omnibus originated in the 1820s as a French word for long, horse-drawn vehicles that transported people along the main thoroughfares of Paris. Shortly thereafter, omnibuses—and the noun omnibus—arrived in New York. But in Latin, omnibus simply means "for all." Our adjective omnibus, which arrived in the mid-1800s, seems to hark back to that Latin omnibus, though it may also have been at least partially influenced by the English noun. An "omnibus bill" containing numerous provisions, for example, could be likened to a bus loaded with people.

Synonyms

Adjective

• all-embracing
• all-in [chiefly British]
• all-inclusive
• broad-gauge
• broad-gauged
• compendious
• complete
• comprehensive
• cover-all
• cyclopedic
• embracive
• encyclopedic
• exhaustive
• full
• global
• in-depth
• inclusive
• panoramic
• thorough
• universal

Examples of omnibus in a Sentence

Adjective

an omnibus edition of his more popular stories

the president's state of the union speech is usually an omnibus look at the issues that the country is confronting

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Republican critics argue the bill is more like a sprawling omnibus than a temporary funding measure. —Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024

In addition to making significant changes to the governor’s school choice proposal, the new House omnibus amendment would also make extensive changes to the state’s public school system. —Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 26 Feb. 2024

Adjective

Juror #2 > Kinds of Kindness Clint Eastwood’s lawfare nightmare confronts the moral weakness of a citizen and the system, while Yorgos Lanthimos excuses and celebrates personal dishonesty in a three-part omnibus anticipation of The Brutalist. —Armond White, National Review, 8 Jan. 2025

Her speeches continued to focus on legislative issues, criticizing omnibus bills, for example, as opaque and wasteful. —Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

French, from Latin, for all, dative plural of omnis

First Known Use

Noun

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing omnibus

• the man on the Clapham omnibus

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Kids Definition

omnibus

1 of 2 noun

om·​ni·​bus ˈäm-ni-(ˌ)bəs 

: bus

omnibus

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or providing for many things at once

2

: containing or including many items

an omnibus legislative bill