Omniscience
n.thoughtful, capableformal
What it means
The state of knowing everything that can be known.
Reach for it when naming complete knowledge, especially as a divine or narrative attribute
The novel treats omniscience as responsibility for every known consequence.
Choose between these
5- everyday
all-knowingness
a transparent gloss is more useful than the technical term
not when The coined noun is awkward in polished prose.
- warm
infinite wisdom
boundless good judgment is the devotional focus
not when Wisdom and knowledge are different qualities.
- professional
perfect awareness
nothing relevant escapes awareness
not when Awareness can lack propositional knowledge.
- formal
total knowledge
complete scope is being asserted directly
not when Total needs a defined universe outside theology.
- literary
panomniscience
a specialized philosophical variant is intended
not when The rarer term will require explanation.
Said against
3- ignorance
- uncertainty
- nescience
It naturally appears in
3- divine omniscience
The seminar examined divine omniscience alongside human freedom.
- claim to omniscience
The editor rejected any claim to omniscience about readers.
- narrative omniscience
Narrative omniscience lets the novel enter every character's thoughts.
Where this comes from
Omniscience belongs chiefly to theology, philosophy, and narrative technique; applying it to real people is hyperbole.
- wiktionary, English noun, state of knowing everything sense opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-27
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.