Uncle Sam
Preserved but no longer current.
The personification of the Government, or the people, of the United States — a facetious adaptation of the initials U.S. (Uncle Sam) placed on government prop- erty. The expression arose about 1812 and quickly became popular.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Uncle Sam” mean?
The personification of the Government, or the people, of the United States — a facetious adaptation of the initials U.S. (Uncle Sam) placed on government prop- erty. The expression arose about 1812 and quickly became popular.
Is “Uncle Sam” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.