Uncle Sam

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌʌŋkəlˈsæm/US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈʌŋkəl ˈsæm/


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
Un•cle Sam /ˈʌŋkəl ˈsæm/USA pronunciation  n. [proper noun]
  1. Governmenta name used to represent the government or people of the U.S.:Uncle Sam is usually represented as a tall, lean man with white chin whiskers, wearing a blue coat, red-and-white-striped trousers, and a top hat with a band of stars.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Uncle Sam, 
  1. Governmenta 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.
  • extension of the initials U.south, southern. 1805–15, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Uncle Sam n
  1. a personification of the government of the United States
Etymology: 19th Century: apparently a humorous interpretation of the letters stamped on army supply boxes during the War of 1812: US
'Uncle Sam' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
uncle - us

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