Orbis

Orbis is a Latin noun meaning circle, disk, or globe. In classical Latin, orbis terrarum referred to the known or inhabited world. The term has influenced various geometric and astronomical expressions, and its roots appear in English words such as orbit, which describes a circular or elliptical path around a center. In modern usage, orbis often appears as a proper name rather than a common noun, appearing in organizations, projects, and products.

One notable use of the name is Orbis International, a non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing and treating blindness worldwide. Orbis operates training programs, clinics, and a specialized transport aircraft known as the Flying Eye Hospital, which serves as both a surgical facility and a training platform. The organization emphasizes partnerships with local health systems to build sustainable eye-care capacity and address avoidable blindness globally.

Orbis is also the name of a commercial database produced by Bureau van Duren. Orbis provides corporate information on public and private companies, including ownership links, subsidiaries, and financial data. It is widely used by researchers, financial professionals, and due diligence teams for market research, competitive analysis, and risk assessment. The database aggregates data from multiple jurisdictions to support analyses of corporate structure, governance, and ownership networks.

In addition to these, orbis occurs as a historical or literary reference to the world or circle in various scholarly and cultural contexts, and the term is sometimes adopted by other organizations or projects seeking a concise, classical name. Overall, orbis functions as a versatile label rooted in Latin lineage that has found application in international philanthropy and corporate information services.