noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/ˈtoʊtəm/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈtəʊtəm/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊtəm
CMU ARPABET:T OW1 T AH0 M
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Any natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe, clan or family; the representation of such an object or creature.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The clan whose kinship is defined in reference to such an object or creature.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A symbol or personification.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An arbitrarily chosen object serving as a reminder to check whether one is awake or not, to aid in having lucid dreams.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A tall object resembling a totem pole.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: emblem
7
noun
Meaning 7
a clan or tribe identified by their kinship to a common totemic object
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: kin, kin group, kinship group, kindred, clan, tribe
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Ojibwe (o)doodem(an).
Across languages
Translations
36 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Arabic:
طَوْطَم
(ṭawṭam)
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Armenian:
տոտեմ
(totem)
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Chinese Cantonese:
圖騰 /图腾
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Chinese Mandarin:
圖騰 /图腾
(túténg)
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Czech:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Danish:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Dutch:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Esperanto:
totemo
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Estonian:
tootem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Finnish:
toteemi
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
French:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Georgian:
ტოტემი
(ṭoṭemi)
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
German:
Totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Icelandic:
tótem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Irish:
tótam
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Italian:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Japanese:
トーテム
(tōtemu)
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Korean:
토템
(totem)
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Lithuanian:
totemas
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Ngarrindjeri:
ngartjie
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Nyunga:
baronga
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Ojibwe:
doodem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Polish:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Portuguese:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Romanian:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Russian:
тоте́м
(totém)
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Slovene:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Sotho:
seboko
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Spanish:
tótem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Swedish:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Tagalog:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Turkish:
ongun
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Turkish:
totem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Vietnamese:
tô-tem
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
Vietnamese:
vật tổ
— natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe
