Standard Lemma guide

disorientation

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /dɪsˌɔːɹɪənˈteɪʃən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /dɪsˌɔ.ɹi.ɪnˈteɪ.ʃn̩/
  • rhymes with -eɪʃən
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 S AO2 R IY0 AH0 N T EY1 SH AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a state of confusion with regard to time, place or identity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a delusion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

confusion (usually transient) about where you are and how to proceed; uncertainty as to direction

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his disorientation was the result of inattention

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: confusion, mental confusion, confusedness, muddiness, disarray

Narrower terms: culture shock

5

noun

Meaning 5

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

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: freak out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: delusion, hallucination

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

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