# omnibus

/ˈɑmnəbəs/ (US) · /ˈɒmnɪbəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/omnibus
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a collection of works

noun · CEFR B2

a large book that contains several stories or books by the same author that were originally published separately.

For teachers: a single volume containing several works, typically by the same author or on the same subject, previously published independently.

- I bought the complete Sherlock Holmes omnibus to read on my holiday.
- The publisher released a commemorative omnibus featuring all three novels in the trilogy alongside previously unseen short stories.

### 2. a bus

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Archaic

a long vehicle that carries many passengers along a fixed route; this is the full, formal name for a bus.

For teachers: a large, public, horse-drawn or motor vehicle designed to carry many passengers along a fixed route.

- In the 19th century, the horse-drawn omnibus was a common sight in London.
- The transition from the horse-drawn omnibus to the motorised version revolutionised urban transport in the early twentieth century.

Teaching tip: Modern speakers almost exclusively use 'bus'; 'omnibus' in this sense is found mostly in historical contexts or formal legal documents.

### 3. a TV or radio compilation

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a single programme that shows all the episodes of a series from the past week.

For teachers: a broadcast consisting of several episodes of a serial programme shown consecutively.

- If you missed the soap opera during the week, you can watch the omnibus on Sunday.
- The Sunday afternoon omnibus remains popular with viewers who prefer to catch up on the week's drama in a single sitting.

### 4. covering many items

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

including or dealing with many different things at the same time.

For teachers: pertaining to, providing for, or including many items or objects at once.

- The government passed an omnibus bill that changed several different laws at once.
- Critics argued that the omnibus spending package was too large for any single representative to review thoroughly before the vote.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 5. to combine items

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

to put several different things, like laws or reports, together into one large package.

For teachers: to combine multiple distinct items, particularly legislative bills, into a single comprehensive package.

- The committee decided to omnibus the three smaller proposals into one major act.
- By choosing to omnibus the various environmental regulations, the administration hoped to streamline the approval process.

Usage: This is a transitive verb requiring a direct object.

## Examples

- I bought an omnibus of her first three novels.
- The network aired a three-hour omnibus on Sunday for fans who missed the weekday episodes.
- The publisher released a commemorative omnibus featuring the author's early short stories alongside never-before-seen sketches and personal correspondence from that formative period.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.