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

The lab was also expecting the tariffs to raise a net $1 trillion for Uncle Sam over the next decade.

From MarketWatch

Today, the mood toward Uncle Sam in Berlin, and much of the world, has darkened.

From The Wall Street Journal

But being on the list of possible Golden Dome beneficiaries doesn’t guarantee that a company is going to win any contracts from Uncle Sam.

From Barron's

But just as the former Berkshire Hathaway CEO departs the scene, the market looks to be turning against Uncle Sam.

From Barron's

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