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
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
Even after years of work-from-home culture slowly yielding to a return-to-office orientation, commercial real estate vacancies are still highly elevated.
—Melvin Backman, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
Those two orientations were just an amazing kind of sauce to be cooked in.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Many American mutual funds have stakes, including those with an international or tech-focused investment orientation.
—Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024
At least 7 precious and base metal rich quartz-sulphide veins were identified with orientations orthogonal to the Baker A- and B-Veins, suggesting the mineralization may be related, but not directly to the historical Baker Mine.
—Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
For example, humility, self-awareness, self-control, moral sensitivity, social skills, emotional intelligence, kindness, a prosocial and moral orientation, are all more likely to be found in women than men.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The center is hosting a foster orientation at 10 a.m. March 2.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024
Very much a craftsman focused on the technology, the user experience, very different orientation.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Per the news station, the father and son were visiting the University of Central Florida for orientation.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Melvin Backman, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
Those two orientations were just an amazing kind of sauce to be cooked in.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Many American mutual funds have stakes, including those with an international or tech-focused investment orientation.
—Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024
At least 7 precious and base metal rich quartz-sulphide veins were identified with orientations orthogonal to the Baker A- and B-Veins, suggesting the mineralization may be related, but not directly to the historical Baker Mine.
—Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
For example, humility, self-awareness, self-control, moral sensitivity, social skills, emotional intelligence, kindness, a prosocial and moral orientation, are all more likely to be found in women than men.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The center is hosting a foster orientation at 10 a.m. March 2.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024
Very much a craftsman focused on the technology, the user experience, very different orientation.
—Fortune Editors, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Per the news station, the father and son were visiting the University of Central Florida for orientation.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'orientation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to orientation
Dictionary Entries Near orientation
Cite this Entry
“Orientation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orientation. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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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