ousia

O1U1S1I1A1
UK/ˈuːsɪə/UK/ˈuːzɪə/

noun

The essential nature or ‘substance’ of God, often as contrasted to the ‘energies’ (external actions and influences) through which he is manifest.

OriginAncient Greek οὐσία →
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Meanings

nounousia (uncountable)
  1. uncountablelifestyleThe essential nature or ‘substance’ of God, often as contrasted to the ‘energies’ (external actions and influences) through which he is manifest.

    We could never know God's ousia, but in order to adapt his indescribable nature to our limited intellect, God communicated to us through his activities in the world.

    2009, Karen Armstrong, The Case for God, Vintage, published 2010, page 79
  2. uncountablehuman sciencesEssence, being.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
essencegravamen

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekοὐσία
  2. Englishousia

Borrowed from Ancient Greek οὐσία (ousía), from οὖσα (oûsa), the feminine present participle of εἰμί (eimí, “I am”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ousia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ousia

MLA

“ousia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ousia. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ousia,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ousia.

Source: ousia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.