Totem
noun /ˈtəʊ.təm/ — A sacred symbol of identity, ancestral connection, or group spirit
Definition
A natural object — typically an animal — adopted as an emblem or symbol by a community, clan, or individual, believed to have spiritual significance and to represent ancestral connection. Extended to any object or symbol that represents identity or belonging.
Beyond the definition
The symbol that says who you are without words. A totem condenses identity into a single image — the animal that your people are, the object that represents your clan, the thing that carries the spirit of the group. It is identity made visible and portable.
Origin & history
From Ojibwe 'ototeman' (his totem, his clan). Borrowed into English in the 18th century through fur traders. The concept belongs to many Indigenous traditions worldwide, though the word is Algonquian. Extended broadly into psychoanalysis by Freud ('Totem and Taboo') and into anthropology by Lévi-Strauss.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The eagle was their totem — not just a symbol but a living presence that carried the spirit of the people who claimed it.
In Freud's reading, the totem is the earliest form of the sacred: the animal ancestor who must be revered and cannot be harmed.
Every subculture develops its totems — the objects, symbols, or figures that mark belonging and condense the identity of the group.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Totem” when the meaning fits your context: A natural object — typically an animal — adopted as an emblem or symbol by a community, clan, or individual, believed to have spiritual significance and to represent ancestral connection. Extended to any object or symbol that represents identity or belonging.
Synonyms
emblem, symbol, talisman, clan sign, sacred animal
Antonyms
individual, anonymous, unmarked
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Totem" mean?
Totem is noun meaning: A sacred symbol of identity, ancestral connection, or group spirit. A natural object — typically an animal — adopted as an emblem or symbol by a community, clan, or individual, believed to have spiritual significance and to represent ancestral connection. Extended to any object or symbol that represents identity or belonging.
Where does the word "Totem" come from?
From Ojibwe 'ototeman' (his totem, his clan). Borrowed into English in the 18th century through fur traders. The concept belongs to many Indigenous traditions worldwide, though the word is Algonquian. Extended broadly into psychoanalysis by Freud ('Totem and Taboo') and into anthropology by Lévi-Strauss.