as in symbol
a device, design, or figure used as an identifying mark
the bald eagle, that universally recognized totem of our country
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Examples of totem in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But China takes this to a whole new level, where golds are not only seen as a totem of nationalistic pride, but silvers are often lambasted on Chinese social media.
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Alexander Smith, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2024
Other totems of reverence, including books by Baldwin, Lorde, Morrison, and more, are placed throughout the multi-room show.
—Wren Sanders, Them, 26 July 2024
Old tires become artistic totems in the hands of Betsabeé Romero, whose profile is rising thanks to an exhibition timed to the Venice Biennale that will come to Long Beach.
—Gordon Cole-Schmidt, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2024
That included the last one in which the three players remaining had to stand on two uneven poles and hold on to a totem for as long as possible in 104-degree heat.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for totem 
Alexander Smith, NBC News, 11 Aug. 2024
Other totems of reverence, including books by Baldwin, Lorde, Morrison, and more, are placed throughout the multi-room show.
—Wren Sanders, Them, 26 July 2024
Old tires become artistic totems in the hands of Betsabeé Romero, whose profile is rising thanks to an exhibition timed to the Venice Biennale that will come to Long Beach.
—Gordon Cole-Schmidt, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2024
That included the last one in which the three players remaining had to stand on two uneven poles and hold on to a totem for as long as possible in 104-degree heat.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for totem
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'totem.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Totem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/totem. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
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