Uncle Sam

American  

noun

1. a personification of the government or people of the U.S.: represented as a tall, lean man with white chin whiskers, wearing a blue tailcoat, red-and-white-striped trousers, and a top hat with a band of stars.

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Uncle Sam British  

noun

1. a personification of the government of the United States

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Uncle Sam Cultural  

1. A figure who stands for the government of the United States and for the United States itself. Uncle Sam — whose initials are the abbreviation of United States — is portrayed as an old man with a gray goatee who sports a top hat and Stars and Stripes clothing. During World War I and World War II, posters of Uncle Sam exhorted young men to join the armed forces. (Compare John Bull.)

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Etymology

Origin of Uncle Sam

An Americanism dating back to 1805–15; extension of the initials U.S.

Example Sentences

Investing can cost almost nothing nowadays—until Uncle Sam comes calling.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

Uncle Sam doesn’t care if you just bought the mutual fund either.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

With the three-month T-bill yield at 3.68%, that represents real savings to Uncle Sam.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

So what in the name of Uncle Sam happened?

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Now we were waiting for Uncle Sam and the Gold Dust Twins because we wanted every year to be just like last year.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck