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, 6 Sep. 2025
By the way, Texas was No. 9 and Florida was No. 6 on this political totem pole.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Those who are at the lower end of the legal totem pole are at the most risk, meaning legal secretaries, paralegals and new attorneys.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
African American women are at the bottom of every socioeconomic totem pole.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totem pole
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Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
By the way, Texas was No. 9 and Florida was No. 6 on this political totem pole.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
Those who are at the lower end of the legal totem pole are at the most risk, meaning legal secretaries, paralegals and new attorneys.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
African American women are at the bottom of every socioeconomic totem pole.
—Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for totem pole
Cite this Entry
“Totem pole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totem%20pole. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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