totem
noun
a natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group.
totems
-
pluralof totem.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A pair of blue totems from 2016 are built upon an amalgamation of numerous smaller objects, the process and monochromatic finish indebted to Louise Nevelson.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
Turner, who died Wednesday at age 87, elbowed his way to the forefront of modern television by prioritizing profit over deeper questions about whether certain cultural totems should be held sacrosanct.
From Salon ● May 8, 2026
It's been an uncomfortably long time since Scotland has seen the best of McGinn and McTominay, their twin totems, and Ryan Christie hasn't started any of Bournemouth's last five games.
From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2025
What Lévi-Strauss concluded about totems can be applied to dioramas, too.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2024
These creatures drifted around without families, totems or tribes, although Knife and Granny seemed to be Portuguese.
From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer
