orientation

The direction something faces, or the way someone's interests and feelings are directed.

• The house has a southern orientation.
• People have different sexual orientations.
• The newspaper changed its political orientation.

How to use it: orientation of something (The orientation of the building allows sunlight into every room.)

Similar words: direction, alignment

Common phrases: sexual orientation, political orientation, orientation of something

An introduction that helps you understand a new place, activity, or piece of equipment.

• New students attend orientation on Monday.
• The orientation session helped me find the library.
• Have you completed your staff orientation?

How to use it: orientation to something (The course offers an orientation to the laboratory equipment.)

Similar words: introduction, induction

Common phrases: orientation session, student orientation, orientation program, orientation to something

The ability or process of finding where you are and which direction to go.

• A compass can help with orientation.
• These birds use the sun for orientation.
• The injury affected her sense of orientation.

Similar words: navigation, direction finding

Opposites: disorientation

Common phrases: spatial orientation, sense of orientation, orientation skills