orientation

noun

ori·​en·​ta·​tion ˌȯr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən 

-ˌen-

plural orientations

1

a

: the act or process of orienting or of being oriented

These materials are for the orientation of new employees.

b

: the state of being oriented

the orientation of the main altar of the church

broadly : arrangement, alignment

the orientation of molecules

2

a

: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest

… the fundamentally human orientation of Greek art …

—Bruce Cole

This company has a decidedly conservative orientation.

b

: a person's sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, straight, gay, lesbian, pansexual, etc. : the state of being bisexual, straight, gay, lesbian, pansexual, etc. : sexual orientation

3

: change of position by organs, organelles, or organisms in response to external stimulus

The plant's orientation is toward light.

orientational

ˌȯr-ē-ən-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

-ˌen-

adjective

orientationally adverb

Synonyms of orientation

• aspect
• alignment
• exposure

Examples of orientation in a Sentence

These materials are used for the orientation of new employees.

They identified as bisexual in orientation.

The organization has a decidedly conservative orientation.

Her later works were more introspective in orientation.

New students need to go through a short orientation before they begin classes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Novelist David Eggers lamented the business orientation of the tech entrepreneurs. — Michael Bernick, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

The staff currently stands at 35, the department said in a statement Tuesday, noting that another 14 people are in a months-long process of orientation, training and shadowing veteran inspectors. — Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

The staff currently stands at 35, the department said in a statement Tuesday, noting that another 14 people are in a monthslong process of orientation, training and shadowing veteran inspectors. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

It’s made for photographers and videographers who want to quickly switch between landscape and portrait orientation on their tripod, or sometimes want to mount a light or mic to their camera when there isn’t a dedicated place to do so. — David Imel, The Verge, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing orientation

• freshman orientation
• sexual orientation

Rhymes for orientation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

orientation

noun

ori·​en·​ta·​tion ˌōr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən 

ˌȯr-ē-ˌen-

1

a

: the act or process of orienting or of being oriented

b

: the state of being oriented

2

a

: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest

b

: a person's sexual identity or self-identification

bisexual in orientation

3

: change of position by a cell or organism or by one of their parts in response to outside stimulus

Medical Definition

orientation

noun

ori·​en·​ta·​tion ˌōr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən, ˌȯr-, -ˌen- 

1

a

: the act or process of orienting or of being oriented

b

: the state of being oriented

2

: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest see sexual orientation

3

: change of position by organs, organelles, or organisms in response to external stimulus

4

: awareness of the existing situation with reference to time, place, and identity of persons

psychological orientation

orientational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective

orientationally

-ē 

adverb