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Uncle Tom

noun Un·cle Tom \ ˌəŋ-kəl-ˈtäm \
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1 disparaging : a black person who is overeager to win the approval of whites (as by obsequious behavior or uncritical acceptance of white values and goals)
2 disparaging : a person who is overly subservient to or cooperative with authority
  • the worst floor managers and supervisors by far are women … Some of them are regular Uncle Toms
  • —Jane Fonda
—

Uncle Tomism

play \ˌəŋ-kəl-ˈtä-ˌmi-zəm\ noun

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Origin and Etymology of uncle tom

Uncle Tom, pious and faithful black slave in Uncle Tom's Cabin (1851–52) by Harriet Beecher Stowe

First Known Use: 1852

in the meaning defined at sense 1

2

Uncle Tom

verb
Uncle Tommed; Uncle Tomming
intransitive verb
disparaging
: to behave like an Uncle Tom

UNCLE TOM Defined for English Language Learners

Uncle Tom

noun

  • : a black person who is eager to win the approval of white people and willing to cooperate with them

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Uncle Tom

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