orientation

noun

ori·​en·​ta·​tion ˌȯr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce orientation (audio)
-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 artBruce 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 adjective
orientationally adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The attention to detail continues after arrival, with orientation and activities beginning right away, plus an amazingly friendly, dedicated and helpful staff—roughly 400 employees, many of them from multi-generational families working here. Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024 The school began preparing students and community members on what to do in case of a wildfire during new student orientation at the beginning of the academic year. Amy Taxin and Eric Thayer, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Dec. 2024 Nearly a year after NASA's Ingenuity helicopter crash landed on Mars following an extended, remarkably successful mission, engineers have determined the most likely culprit: Flight over sand drifts so featureless that on-board sensors could not determine the helicopter's orientation and velocity. William Harwood, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024 As for whether people can be trained to be great leaders—as opposed to simply being born with the proper traits in the proper orientation, Buffett split the difference. Jane Thier, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for orientation 

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of orientation was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near orientation

Cite this Entry

“Orientation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orientation. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

orientation

noun
ori·​en·​ta·​tion ˌōr-ē-ən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce orientation (audio)
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- How to pronounce orientation (audio)
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 adjective
orientationally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on orientation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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