unc

1 of 2

noun

variants or Unc or less commonly unk or Unk
plural uncs or Uncs also unks or Unks
slang, humorous
: a person (especially a man) who is old or ageing or who acts old for their age
often : such a person who is regarded fondly
Take it from me—an unc—the darker days (literally) will creep in soon enough. For now, I'll go take my midday nap and catch you on the next one. Ben Rachel
… his inspiration often comes from family, including an "unc" character he developed based on his late grandfather. Alex Barton
The people who were born in the sixties are now confronted with strangers greeting them with, "Hey Unc," "What's up Old School," and "Hi Auntie" as their salutations … Wanda Clay
I let him call me "Unk" once or twice because I'm a dad but we ain't letting it slide anymore … Derick Lively II, quoted at clutchpoints.com
often used in the phrase unc status
… But then comes the startling realization: you're the one who's fallen off. Now, as a sophomore, you've officially reached unc status. Samantha Rickards
Staring down my 40th birthday, I was one week away from that dreaded milestone. And I was slowly careening into unc status. Coby Zeifman

Note: This sense originated in African American English usage to mean an uncle or older man and has since become widespread and broader in meaning.

unc adjective
You're still technically a teen—not quite unc enough for bars and clubs—leaving you with nothing better to do than to keep going back to the frats. dailycal.org
Even Spotify got in on the drama. "Are you unc? Show us your listening age," they wrote on X, pouring gasoline on the fire. I'm unc? No, you're unc, Spotify. Robert Moran

Unc

2 of 2

abbreviation

uncirculated

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for uncle

First Known Use

Noun

2024, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unc was in 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unc. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Entry added
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