Uncle Sam

noun

Un·​cle Sam ˌəŋ-kəl-ˈsam 

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

John Wilkerson, dressed up in an Uncle Sam hat and beard, served as a paratrooper in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026

Uncle Sam faces also new competition on the borrowing front from companies pouring money into artificial intelligence infrastructure. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Uncle Sam allows insurers to deny necessary procedures to their beneficiaries. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, poor Uncle Sam is slowly dying under the debt’s burden. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

expansion of U.S., abbreviation of United States

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Uncle Sam

• abraham
• anagram
• cablegram
• cofferdam
• dendrogram
• diagram
• diaphragm
• epigram
• hexagram
• histogram
• hologram
• instagram

Kids Definition

Uncle Sam

noun

Un·​cle Sam ˌəŋ-kəl-ˈsam 

1

: the U.S. government thought of or represented as a person

2

: the American nation or people