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

You wouldn’t lend Uncle Sam your money for 10 years at, say, 4% interest if you thought inflation was going to be 4% a year over that time.

From MarketWatch

Americans shouldn’t do their 2026 budgeting with the expectation of a hefty check from Uncle Sam.

From MarketWatch

But even as Uncle Sam is taking in less, he’s still spending more.

From Washington Times

Decades from now, repaying Uncle Sam takes priority even ahead of operations and maintenance, the board resolution said.

From Seattle Times

Sometimes, Uncle Sam can be generous to a fault.

From Washington Post