orientation

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   A short introduction or training session that prepares newcomers for a new job, school, or place.

   Grammar: Often used without an article: attend orientation.

   Patterns

   • orientation for someone
   • attend orientation

   New students attend orientation before classes begin.

   The company runs a two-day orientation for new hires.

   At orientation, we received a map and a schedule.

2. 2nouncountable

   A person's basic views, interests, or leanings, especially in politics, religion, or career.

   Grammar: Often with a modifier: political orientation.

   Patterns

   • orientation toward something

   The survey asked about each voter's political orientation.

   Her orientation toward science began in childhood.

   The newspaper has a liberal orientation.

3. 3nouncountable or uncountable

   The direction something faces or the position it takes in relation to its surroundings.

   Grammar: Used for layout and position: portrait orientation.

   Patterns

   • the orientation of something

   Rotate the picture to landscape orientation.

   The orientation of the house gives it morning sun.

   The compass helped determine the orientation of the map.

4. 4nouncountable

   A person's pattern of romantic or sexual attraction, such as toward the same or the opposite sex.

   Grammar: Usually in the phrase sexual orientation.

   Patterns

   • sexual orientation

   The law protects workers regardless of sexual orientation.

   Her orientation is a private matter.

Word forms

Common combinations

new employee orientation

New employee orientation lasts one morning.

sexual orientation

The form asks about sexual orientation but it is optional.

political orientation

His political orientation shaped his career.

landscape orientation

Print the chart in landscape orientation.

orientation session

The orientation session covered safety rules.

Synonyms and how they differ

induction

Induction is the British word for training new staff, while orientation is more common in the US.

introduction

Introduction is a general first presentation, while orientation is a planned program to settle newcomers.

alignment

Alignment is the arrangement of things in a line, narrower than orientation in position.

stance

Stance is a person's declared position on an issue, whereas orientation is a broader leaning.

Opposites

Word family

orient verb

to find your position or adjust to something new

orientate verb

British variant of orient

oriented adjective

directed toward or interested in something

disorientation noun

a feeling of confusion about position or time

Commonly confused: orientation or orientalism?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “orientation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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