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
India’s foreign policy orientation was forged when, like today, transformative technologies and great-power competition were upending existing global dynamics.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Each unit continues to adjust its orientation and contact forces locally, contributing motion, adhesion, and balance.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025
Instead, sea turtles nest on the beach, their hatchlings’ sense of orientation protected by dark-sky rules and by long-term residents who know to handle them with care on their extensive strolls along a quiet, windswept beach.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Most shelters require an application and some require orientation for the humans who volunteer to foster dogs.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for orientation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Each unit continues to adjust its orientation and contact forces locally, contributing motion, adhesion, and balance.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025
Instead, sea turtles nest on the beach, their hatchlings’ sense of orientation protected by dark-sky rules and by long-term residents who know to handle them with care on their extensive strolls along a quiet, windswept beach.
—Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Most shelters require an application and some require orientation for the humans who volunteer to foster dogs.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for orientation
Cite this Entry
“Orientation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orientation. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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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