wayfinding

See also: way-finding

English

Alternative forms

• way-finding

Etymology

From way +‎ finding.

Noun

wayfinding (uncountable)

1. (biology) The ability of a person or animal to orientate oneself and to navigate; the process used by a person or animal for orienting oneself and navigating.
   • 2009 July 8, Kristi Oloffson, “Why We Get Lost”, in Time, retrieved 9 May 2014:

     And that difference in style is often cast as being part of the basis of gender differences in wayfinding. People say that women are more likely to navigate with landmarks and men are more likely to navigate using the cardinal directions.

   • 2015, Chris Calori, David Vanden-Eynden, Signage and Wayfinding Design:

     These built‐in features in the natural and man‐made environment are the passive tools of wayfinding. The best places and spaces are rich with these integrated attributes that foster orientation, understanding, and self‐guiding.

   • 2021 October 6, “Network News: Upgrades start at Cardiff Central”, in RAIL, number 941, page 24:

     New signage is being installed to enhance wayfinding and USB sockets are being added in the main concourse area and Platform 8's waiting area.

Usage notes

• Often used attributively to mean "of or pertaining to orienting and navigating", as in:

• 2014 May 2, Nathaniel Axtell, “Sign of the times: TDA plans wayfinding program to guide tourism”, in blueridgenow.com, retrieved 9 May 2014:

Buncombe County’s Tourism Development Authority unveiled its $1.65 million wayfinding program in 2009, consisting of more than 300 signs directing visitors to nearly 90 attractions, public spaces, historic sites and other destinations.

See also

• find one's way

References

• “wayfinding”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “wayfinding”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.