Politically incorrect term used in place of "Asian." Correct usage should be an adjective for things like inanimate objects, not humans.
Correct usage: There's an Oriental rug store on Derbe Drive.
or
Are you going to the Oriental market?
Incorrect usage: Is that dude oriental?
or
Orientals are known to be bad drivers.
by Sean-Paul December 01, 2003
Adjective meaning "east"
Comes from the Latin, "Oriens" = east.
Anything east of Europe is Oriental in the Euro-centric mind. That's why Oriental Rugs come from the Persia, not China.
Oriental is associated with European colonialism in China. Especially a British image of China as once great race, but declined and vulnerable to colonization and subjugation. Negro, Coon, and Mic share similar connotations.
by slk December 02, 2004
1. Anything Asian-related
by Rosey Berroya September 29, 2005
another politically incorrect word that is used by ignorant people to clump all asians in one group, much like how the word "hispanic" is used to clump all spanish/portuguese speakers in one group. to many it is a derogatory word, seeing that 1) there is no actual country, commonwealth, territory or state known as the "orient" and 2) that asians come from different ethnic backgrounds, religions, and speak different languages. ironically, many asians think that the term oriental is parrallel to word "nigger" and some see the word as old fashion. the terms "westerner" and "middle eastern" follow the same pattern as "oriental" but are less controversial.
if it were up to me, i would eliminate the terms oriental, hispanic, middle eastern, african american and etc., seeing that no matter what common region we hail from, we all have different ethnic backgrounds, religions and speak different languages.
by gunslingergirlvy_c_e August 03, 2006
by Oriental Fetish September 11, 2019
The illiterate way to say "oriented." While technically a word, you sound like a moron when you say it.
by workinglate February 07, 2006
by lexicali slim September 15, 2009