orientation. 1  an orienting or being oriented. 2  position with relation to the points of the compass. 3  the planning of church architecture so that the altar is in the east end. 4  familiarization with and adaptation to a situation or environment; specif.,rientation. noun. 1  The act of orienting or the state of being oriented. 2  Location or position relative to the points of the compass. 3  The construction of a church so that its longitudinal axis has an east-west direction with the main altar usually at the eastern end.