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
2
a
: a usually general or lasting direction of thought, inclination, or interest
… the fundamentally human orientation of Greek art …—
Bruce Cole
Bruce ColeThis 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.
orientationally
adverb
Synonyms of orientation
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
Cruz remembers how, in orientation, the students were asked about the five mother sauces.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Subsequent migration waves included far more working-class economic migrants with different political orientations.
—Michael Paarlberg, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
However, in the Chinese practice of Feng Shui–which is the art of achieving balance and harmony through the arrangement of buildings, furniture, and other objects in your environment—south-facing orientation is a good thing.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Using its multi-camera vision system, the robot identifies laundry items, determines their orientation and shape, and executes folding motions learned during training.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for orientation
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Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
Subsequent migration waves included far more working-class economic migrants with different political orientations.
—Michael Paarlberg, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
However, in the Chinese practice of Feng Shui–which is the art of achieving balance and harmony through the arrangement of buildings, furniture, and other objects in your environment—south-facing orientation is a good thing.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Using its multi-camera vision system, the robot identifies laundry items, determines their orientation and shape, and executes folding motions learned during training.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for orientation
Cite this Entry
“Orientation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orientation. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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-
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
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