noun
- a religious or social system based on a special relationship between a group of people and a totem, especially an animal or plant considered sacred
Usage: anthropology; religious studies
Examples
- The anthropologist studied totemism among various indigenous tribes.
- Totemism played a central role in the spiritual beliefs of many Native American cultures.
- The clan’s totemism centered around the eagle as their sacred animal.
- Early sociologists like Durkheim wrote extensively about totemism in primitive societies.
- The tribe’s totemism influenced their hunting practices and seasonal ceremonies.
- Totemism often involves taboos against killing or eating the totemic animal.