orienteering

American  

[awr-ee-en-teer-ing, ohr-] / ˌɔr i ɛnˈtɪər ɪŋ, ˌoʊr- /

noun

1. a competitive sport, originating in Sweden, that tests the skills of map reading and cross-country running, in which competitors race through an unknown area to find various checkpoints by using only a compass and topographical map, the winner being the finisher with the lowest elapsed time.

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orienteering British  

/ ˌɔːrɪənˈtɪərɪŋ /

noun

1. a sport in which contestants race on foot over a course consisting of checkpoints found with the aid of a map and a compass

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Etymology

Origin of orienteering

Alteration of Swedish orientering (conformed to -eer ), equivalent to orienter ( a ) orient (v.) + -ing -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The 29-year-old was found unconscious by organisers during an orienteering event last Friday in Chengdu.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2025

Aside from orienteering, Leniuk gained an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics and information technologies and a masters degree with honours in computer science.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2023

For example, Fletcher argues that “smartphones can make people worse at performing everyday tasks. Basic orienteering skills and transport knowledge have been outsourced to apps.”

From Slate • Jan. 1, 2023

Although orienteering is more popular abroad, fewer Americans are familiar.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2022

She’s left all her books, as far as I can see, but has taken the maps from the orienteering, or map reading, course.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George