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

Illustration of totem pole

• totem pole 1

Examples of totem pole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the compensation update applies to all employees, regardless of placement on the totem pole. —William Gavin, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024

Drive past jaw-dropping sights, like Native Alaskan totem poles, snowcapped mountains, and thunderous waterfalls. —Janice Wald Henderson, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

totem pole

noun

: a pole carved and painted with symbols of totems and set up by Indigenous people of the northwest coast of North America