Illustration of totem pole
- totem pole 1
totem pole
noun
1
: a pole or pillar carved and painted with a series of totemic symbols representing family lineage and often mythical or historical incidents and erected by Indian tribes of the northwest coast of North America
2
: an order of rank : hierarchy
Examples of totem pole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For me, ketchup is pretty low on the totem pole, while ranch is and always has been a favorite.
—
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
The Hornets have been at the bottom of the totem pole for the past handful of years.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Survivor: Marquesas An underrated season that saw the first totem pole shake-up: where people on the bottom got together to overthrow those on the top.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Stephen covers his wife’s body with his own, their faces stacked on the screen like a totem pole.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for totem pole 
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Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
The Hornets have been at the bottom of the totem pole for the past handful of years.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Survivor: Marquesas An underrated season that saw the first totem pole shake-up: where people on the bottom got together to overthrow those on the top.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Stephen covers his wife’s body with his own, their faces stacked on the screen like a totem pole.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for totem pole
Dictionary Entries Near totem pole
Cite this Entry
“Totem pole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totem%20pole. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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