disorientation

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UK/dɪsˌɔːɹɪənˈteɪʃən/US/dɪsˌɔ.ɹi.ɪnˈteɪ.ʃn̩/

noun

the loss of one's sense of direction, or of one's position in relationship with the surroundings.

Similar
freak out
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

noundisorientation (usually uncountable, plural disorientations)

plural disorientations

  1. uncountableusuallythe loss of one's sense of direction, or of one's position in relationship with the surroundings.
  2. uncountableusuallya state of confusion with regard to time, place or identity.

    For the first time since arriving in Nigeria, she felt a gaping disorientation; for a split second she couldnʼt even remember where she was.

    2005, Helen Oyeyemi, The Icarus Girl, Bloomsbury, page 50
  3. uncountableusuallya delusion.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna wild delusion (especially one induced by a hallucinogenic drug)

Similar
freak out
Broader
delusionhallucination
Also see
disorientednessfreak out

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From dis- + orientation or perhaps disorientate + -ation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian дезориентация, дезориентация
  • дезориентация (dezorientacija)the loss of one's sense of direction
  • дезориентация (dezorientacija)a state of confusion with regard to time, place or identity
Greek αποπροσανατολισμός, αποπροσανατολισμός
  • αποπροσανατολισμός (apoprosanatolismós)the loss of one's sense of direction
  • αποπροσανατολισμός (apoprosanatolismós)a state of confusion with regard to time, place or identity
Hungarian dezorientáció
  • dezorientációthe loss of one's sense of direction
Indonesian disorientasi, disorientasi
  • disorientasithe loss of one's sense of direction
  • disorientasia state of confusion with regard to time, place or identity
Italian disorientamento
  • disorientamentothe loss of one's sense of direction
Malay penanaran
  • penanarana state of confusion with regard to time, place or identity

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with disorientation

informationeducationlocationapplicationassociationadministrationorganizationcorporationregistrationAsianfoundationcommunicationpopulationnavigationstationaccommodationoperationpublicationvacationtransportationevaluationimplementationinstallationnation
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

disorientation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disorientation

MLA

“disorientation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disorientation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “disorientation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disorientation.

Source: disorientation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.