Simple Explanation

Able to pick up or send sound in all directions equally.

Concise Technical Definition

Describes a device, such as a microphone or speaker, that radiates or receives sound uniformly in all directions.

Layman-Friendly Analogy

Like a light bulb glowing in all directions—not just in front of you.

Industry Usage Summary

Omnidirectional microphones capture ambient sound from every angle, and subwoofers are considered omnidirectional because low frequencies are less directional and radiate broadly.

Engineering Shortcut

360° sound pickup or radiation pattern; directionally neutral.

Full Technical Explanation

Omnidirectional refers to a polar response pattern in which a device—typically a microphone or speaker—responds equally to sound from all directions (360° in the horizontal plane). In audio systems, omnidirectional microphones are used when uniform sound capture is desired, such as for room ambiance or conference settings. In terms of loudspeakers, while most are directional to some degree, subwoofers are effectively omnidirectional because low frequencies (below ~80 Hz) have long wavelengths that are less affected by direction and room positioning. This property is often exploited in bass management and home theater design, allowing flexibility in subwoofer placement.