Multisite-occupancy adsorption is described as a fractional statistic problem, based on Haldane's statistics. Site exclusion is characterized by a statistical exclusion parameter, g, which relates to the molecular size and lattice geometry. A general adsorption isotherm is obtained and comparisons with experiments indicate that the spatial configuration of adsorbed molecules and lateral interactions may accurately be assessed from this theory. In addition, the theoretical framework developed in this paper allows to describe orientational transitions occurring in adlayers of polyatomics. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.