totem pole

American  

noun

totem poles plural

1. a pole or post carved and painted with totemic figures, erected by Indians of the northwest coast of North America, especially in front of their houses.

2. a hierarchical system.

   the bureaucratic totem pole.

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totem pole British  

noun

1. a pole carved or painted with totemic figures set up by certain North American Indians, esp those of the NW Pacific coast, within a village as a tribal symbol or, sometimes, in memory of a dead person

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totem pole Cultural  

1. Among some Native Americans, a pole on which totems are carved. The totem pole usually stands in front of a house or shelter.

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Discover More

A totem pole is thought of figuratively as a symbol (see also symbol) of a hierarchy: “Where does she stand on the totem pole?”

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• totem poles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of totem pole

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

totem pole

And Brunson, who entered the league on the low end of the financial totem pole as a second-round draft pick, still had the security to never worry again.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

A single totem pole appears in the far right of the tight frame, as stiff and formal as Fred.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

“I was a skinny freshman — a low man on the totem pole — and this made me feel like a rebel.’

From New York Times ● May 1, 2024

The delegation explained to museum and government officials how the totem pole was taken and asked for its return without any conditions.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2023

And I wanted to tell Newcharlie that he had the totem pole idea all screwed up.

From "Miracle's Boys" by Jacqueline Woodson