totemic

[ toh-tem-ik ]

adjective

1. of, being, or relating to a natural object or animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group:

   Crocodiles are regarded as totemic animals in some parts of Africa, connected with a group's origin, ancestors, and place.

2. of, being, or relating to anything regarded as a distinctive or venerated emblem by a group or individual:

   I explained that the great horse trilogy, My Friend Flicka, was one of the most vivid and totemic elements of my childhood.

   This has been a totemic issue for their party over the years, literally a signature policy during the last election.

Other Words From

• sub·to·tem·ic adjective
• to·tem·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of totemic¹

First recorded in 1840–50; totem ( def ) + -ic

Example Sentences

The pair was tasked by COP26 president designate Alok Sharma with coming up with a plan to deliver the funds — an issue he has cast as “totemic.”

From Washington Post

It’s a great album, charming and assured, and a near-totemic achievement for the 18-year-old woman who co-produced it and at least co-wrote all of its tracks.

From Washington Post

Trebek’s performance hasn’t changed to combat the untruths of the last few years, in part because it already was a kind of totem to the value of fact.

From FiveThirtyEight

In an economy driven by consumer spending, Black Friday assumed totemic importance.

From The Daily Beast

Diversity is largely accepted and encouraged, but lacks the totemic significance assigned to it by boomer activists.

From The Daily Beast

In an election year, these statistics assume even more totemic importance.

From The Daily Beast

Maybe it's the sheer volume of scandals on the landscape today, robbing any one of its totemic power to shock and dismay voters.

From The Daily Beast

Offscreen, he is the Nascar set's totemic badass, the God-fearing patriot who walks the walk.

From The Daily Beast

The utmost severity attached to the observation of totemic law and custom, to break which was regarded as a serious crime.

From Project Gutenberg

Fetishism of the Zui description is, indeed, the natural concomitant of a totemic system.

From Project Gutenberg

Some, covered with obscene totemic figures and designs, were carved from solid tree trunks forty or fifty feet in length.

From Project Gutenberg

As will appear later, this is a characteristic feature of the transition from primitive to totemic culture.

From Project Gutenberg

Nevertheless, the imitation of animals in the dance already foreshadows the totemic period.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• familial
• tribal