Totem (Noun)
Meaning 1
Emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians).
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Related Words
Meaning 2
A clan or tribe identified by their kinship to a common totemic object.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The eagle was a totem of the tribe, symbolizing strength and courage.
- Each member of the clan wore a necklace featuring their totem, the wolf, as a sign of unity.
- The tribe's totem, the bear, was said to possess healing powers and was revered as a sacred animal.
- The community was divided into several clans, each with its own distinct totem, such as the turtle or the snake.
- The totem pole, featuring the carvings of their ancestral totems, was the centerpiece of the village's ceremonial grounds.