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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

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

If they made it to New York or London, they would start over as an analyst, at the bottom of the totem pole.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026

Why is a 36ft totem pole being moved from Scotland to Canada?

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2023

Almost 100 years ago, a hand-carved totem pole was cut down in the Nass Valley in the northwest of Canada’s British Columbia.

From New York Times ● Aug. 29, 2023

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

From "Miracle's Boys" by Jacqueline Woodson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---