What does tótem mean?

Definitions for tótem
ˈtoʊ təmtótem

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word tótem.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. totemnoun

    a clan or tribe identified by their kinship to a common totemic object

  2. totemnoun

    emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians)

Wiktionary

  1. totemnoun

    Any natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe, clan or family.

  2. totemnoun

    The representation of such object or creature.

  3. totemnoun

    The clan whose kinship is defined in reference to such an object or creature.

  4. Etymology: from (o)doodem(an)

Wikipedia

  1. Totem

    A totem (from Ojibwe: ᑑᑌᒼ or ᑑᑌᒻ doodem) is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe, such as in the Anishinaabe clan system.While the word totem itself is an anglicisation of the Ojibwe term (and both the word and beliefs associated with it are part of the Ojibwe language and culture), belief in tutelary spirits and deities is not limited to the Ojibwe people. Similar concepts, under differing names and with variations in beliefs and practices, may be found in a number of cultures worldwide. The term has also been adopted, and at times redefined, by anthropologists and philosophers of different cultures. Contemporary neoshamanic, New Age, and mythopoetic men's movements not otherwise involved in the practice of a traditional, tribal religion have been known to use "totem" terminology for the personal identification with a tutelary spirit or spirit guide. However, this can be seen as cultural misappropriation.

ChatGPT

  1. totem

    A totem is a natural object, animal, or plant that is often associated with a specific social group, such as a tribe or clan, and serves as an emblem or symbol for that group, often demonstrating ancestry or spiritual connection. It may also refer to a carved or painted representation of such an object. Totems hold a great deal of symbolic and religious significance in many cultures, particularly amongst indigenous groups.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Totemnoun

    a rude picture, as of a bird, beast, or the like, used by the North American Indians as a symbolic designation, as of a family or a clan

Wikidata

  1. Totem

    Totem is a media player for the GNOME computer desktop environment which runs on GNU/Linux, Solaris, BSD and other Unix and Unix-like systems. It is officially included in GNOME starting from version 2.10, but de facto it was already included in most GNOME environments. Totem utilizes the GStreamer framework for playback, though until version 2.27.1, it could alternatively be configured to use the Xine libraries instead of GStreamer. Totem is included as the default media player in many GNU/Linux operating systems, including Ubuntu, Mandriva and others. Released under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License, Totem is free software.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Totem

    tō′tem, n. a natural object, not an individual but one of a class, taken by a tribe, a family, or a single person, and treated with superstitious respect as an outward symbol of an existing intimate unseen relation.—adj. Totem′ic.—ns. Tō′temism, the use of totems as the foundation of a vast social system of alternate obligation and restriction; Tō′temist, one designated by a totem.—adj. Tō′temistic. [Algonquin otem, which must be preceded by the personal article, as kitotem=the family-mark, nind-otem=my family-mark.]

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for tótem »

  1. motet

  2. motte

How to pronounce tótem?

How to say tótem in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of tótem in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of tótem in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of tótem in a Sentence

  1. Prince Charles:

    I think Prince Charles would be flexible because the core focus would be on William and his family, and Meghan and Harry are further down the totem pole.

  2. Elizabeth Lombardo:

    You need to be up on that totem pole of priorities or else you’re not going to be the best mom possible.

  3. Frank Moore Colby:

    Averageness is a quality we must put up with. Men march toward civilization in column formation, and by the time the van has learned to admire the masters the rear is drawing reluctantly away from the totem pole.

  4. Former President Bill Clinton:

    What it means is ‘I’ll give you an economy you had 50 years ago, and I’ll move you back up on the social totem pole and other people down,’.

  5. Stephan Jost:

    It became clear from Steve Langdon research that the totem pole was a sacred object of cultural patrimony and we immediately decided the totem pole should be returned home.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

tótem#10000#26989#100000

Translations for tótem

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for tótem »

Translation

Find a translation for the tótem definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"tótem." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 14 Mar. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/t%C3%B3tem>.

Discuss these tótem definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for tótem? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Image or illustration of

    tótem

    Credit »

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    applied to a fish depicted horizontally
    A jejune
    B lacerate
    C currish
    D naiant

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for tótem: