What Does the Word Omnibus Mean?

The word "omnibus" may be used as an adjective or as a noun. It is an English word derived from French, and in French from Latin, from the dative plural case of "omnis," or "all."

Noun

An omnibus is more commonly called a "bus." The word means a vehicle accessible to the public and made to carry many passengers. "Omnibus" can also refer to a book comprising reprints of other works. For example, "The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus" is a collection of Superman comics bound in one volume.

Adjective

In its adjectival form, "omnibus" follows only the second noun definition. It means providing, being, containing, or referring to many items or things.

Motto

"Justitia omnibus" is the motto of the District of Columbia, the capitol of the United States. It means "Justice for all."

Expression

"Quod semper, quod unique, quod ab omnibus" means "What [has been held] always, everywhere, by everybody." In other words, "It's always been that way; everyone knows that."

Legal Jargon

In the U.S. House and Senate, an "omnibus bill" includes several measures and may combine diverse subjects.

References

• Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Omnibus
• C-SPAN Congressional Glossary: Omnibus
• DC Universe: The Death and Return of Superman Omnibus