Uncle Sam

noun

Un·​cle Sam ˌəŋ-kəl-ˈsam How to pronounce Uncle Sam (audio)
1
: the U.S. government
2
: the American nation or people

Examples of Uncle Sam in a Sentence

Uncle Sam wants you to join the Army!
Recent Examples on the Web What to know Uncle Sam is reducing credit card late fees. The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 Here’s a primer on the key off-the-field developments (in rough chronological order) … Uncle Sam gets involved To the list of plaintiffs against the NCAA, add the Department of Justice. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 One post showed a cartoon of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Uncle Sam in a choke hold with a caption that said there will never be a free Palestine until the United States is free of Israel. Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Feb. 2024 Colleges and universities now have every reason to increase tuition and fees, knowing that, while students may occupy the dorm rooms, higher ed’s true customer is Uncle Sam. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 24 Feb. 2024 The Uncle Sam Loan Office was the final building to burn on the street, Graeme Larkin added. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 17 Feb. 2024 Leading up to 2017, many high-tax states could get away with keeping their taxes high in part because itemizing taxpayers could write off their state and local tax bills when filing with Uncle Sam. Daniel Bunn, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2024 Another way to qualify for a free return is courtesy of Uncle Sam. Tanza Loudenback, wsj.com, 9 Jan. 2024 The end of the year is always a hectic time, and although some argue turning the calendar to a new year is capricious and arbitrary, most people (not to mention Uncle Sam) do not look at it that way. Adam Eagleston, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Uncle Sam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

expansion of U.S., abbreviation of United States

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Uncle Sam was in 1810

Dictionary Entries Near Uncle Sam

Cite this Entry

“Uncle Sam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Uncle%20Sam. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Uncle Sam

noun
Un·​cle Sam ˌəŋ-kəl-ˈsam How to pronounce Uncle Sam (audio)
1
: the U.S. government thought of or represented as a person
2
: the American nation or people

More from Merriam-Webster on Uncle Sam

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