orientation

orientation — noun

1. the gender or genders a person feels sexual or romantic attraction toward

1.名詞
釋義

the gender or genders a person feels sexual or romantic attraction toward

例句

The form asks about sexual orientation only for health research.

fixed phrase: sexual orientation

Ava spoke openly about her orientation with two close friends.

同義詞
  • sexuality

    broader and can include a person's sexual life or expression, not only attraction

  • sexual identity

    can stress the label or identity a person uses for themselves

  • romantic orientation

    focuses on romantic attraction, which may not fully match sexual attraction

文法句型

sexual orientation

question your orientation

regardless of sexual orientation

用法筆記

Usually appears in the phrase sexual orientation, or orientation when that full phrase is already understood. Distinguish from gender identity: this sense is about attraction, not about whether someone identifies as male, female, non-binary, or another gender.

常見錯誤

❌The survey asked about gender orientation.
✅The survey asked about sexual orientation.
💡Orientation in this sense is normally used in the phrase sexual orientation, and gender identity is a different idea.

2. the first set of talks, instructions, and practice that helps someone settle int

2.名詞C2
釋義

the first set of talks, instructions, and practice that helps someone settle into unfamiliar work, study, or an activity

例句

New nurses attend a two-day orientation before entering the ward.

attend orientation

The college held orientation in August for first-year students.

hold orientation

同義詞
  • induction

    common in workplaces and often slightly more formal

  • onboarding

    a modern workplace term, especially in business settings

  • briefing

    usually shorter and more focused on giving key information

  • introduction

    a broad word that may be less structured than orientation

文法句型

attend orientation

hold an orientation

orientation for new students

用法筆記

Often countable in school and workplace contexts: attend orientation, hold an orientation, orientation for new staff. The subject is usually a school, employer, hospital, or program.

常見錯誤

❌My screen orientation starts at nine.
✅My orientation session starts at nine.
💡Sense 4 is a training event; sense 5 is about physical direction.

3. the way something is turned, placed, or aimed in relation to a direction or anot

3.名詞C1
釋義

the way something is turned, placed, or aimed in relation to a direction or another point

例句

The house has a south-facing orientation that brings in winter sun.

south-facing orientation

Please check the screen orientation before showing the video.

screen orientation

同義詞
  • direction

    the broad everyday word, but it may not stress exact positioning

  • alignment

    often emphasizes how something lines up with another thing

  • positioning

    highlights where or how something has been placed

  • layout

    can refer more broadly to the arrangement of parts in a space

反義詞
  • misalignment

    used when parts are not lined up in the intended direction

文法句型

screen orientation

orientation toward the sun

change the orientation

用法筆記

Common with words like screen, building, camera, map, or seat. Often followed by toward or described with compass directions such as north-facing or south-facing.

常見錯誤

❌The course orientation points east.
✅The building orientation points east.
💡Sense 5 is about physical direction; courses and jobs use sense 4.

4. the main goals and kind of work that a company, school, or other organization gi

4.名詞
釋義

the main goals and kind of work that a company, school, or other organization gives most attention to

例句

The museum's orientation has shifted from ticket sales to public education.

shifted from X to Y

Our school has an international orientation, so many classes use English.

international orientation

同義詞
  • focus

    a broad everyday word for what an organization gives most attention to

  • mission

    often stresses the official purpose of an organization

  • direction

    can suggest the course an organization is moving toward

  • emphasis

    highlights the area given special weight, not the whole purpose

文法句型

community orientation

international orientation

research orientation

用法筆記

Common with names of institutions such as company, school, bank, or charity. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes a person's views, and from sense 4, which is about newcomer training.

常見錯誤

❌The charity offered orientation to new volunteers every Monday.
✅The charity offered orientation sessions to new volunteers every Monday.
💡Bare orientation in sense 3 means the group's goals or direction; newcomer training is sense 4.

5. a person's general set of values, preferences, and ideas that shapes what they s

5.名詞C2
釋義

a person's general set of values, preferences, and ideas that shapes what they support and how they act

例句

Mina's political orientation changed after two years working overseas.

political orientation

The survey asked about each teacher's religious orientation and family values.

religious orientation

同義詞
  • outlook

    a common word for the way someone sees life or a subject

  • stance

    often focuses on a position about a public issue

  • leaning

    suggests a tendency in one direction rather than a fixed view

  • worldview

    broader and often used for a person's whole picture of life and society

文法句型

political orientation

religious orientation

orientation toward risk

用法筆記

Often modified by words like political, cultural, religious, or practical. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense describes a person's outlook, while sense 3 describes an organization's goals or working direction.

常見錯誤

❌My room's orientation is very practical.
✅My orientation is very practical.
💡Sense 1 is about a person's outlook; a room uses sense 5 for physical direction.