# disorientation

/dɪˌsɔɹiənˈteɪʃən/ (US) · /dɪsˌɔːɹiəntˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disorientation
Updated: 2026-06-22

## Definition

a feeling of being lost or confused about where you are or what is happening. It often happens when you are in a new place or after you wake up.

For teachers: a state of confusion or lack of awareness regarding one's position, direction, or surroundings. Often results from sensory deprivation, fatigue, or unfamiliar environments.

## Examples

- The thick fog caused a sense of disorientation among the hikers.
- After the long flight across several time zones, she felt a mild disorientation that lasted for several hours.
- The protagonist's gradual disorientation serves as a narrative device to mirror the reader's own confusion as the plot's logic begins to unravel.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.