Uncle Sam
Star-spangled patriarch
Uncle Sam is a personification of the United States government or the nation itself, typically depicted as a tall, thin man with white hair and goatee, wearing a star-spangled top hat and red, white, and blue suit.
The figure appears most famously in military recruitment posters: Uncle Sam wants you.
The name may also refer to federal authority generally: You can't hide income from Uncle Sam.
Cloth symbol or signal
- stars and stripesFlag's visual elements
- Fourth of JulyAnnual American independence celebration
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
democracy · allegiance · nationalism · citizenship · homeland · veteran · independence · national anthem
Voluntary entry into service
- draftPreliminary version of text
- conscriptionMandatory military enrollment
- I Want YouDirect statement of desire
- propagandaBiased information for influence
poster · military service · army · navy · marines · air force · volunteer · wartime
Symbolic tale with deeper meaning
- embodimentConcrete manifestation of idea
- figureheadNominal leader, no authority
- avatarDigital user representation
- representationDepiction or likeness
icon · effigy · manifestation · anthropomorphism · caricature · symbol · archetype · epitome
Tall formal headwear
- white beardElderly man's facial hair
- blue coatColored outerwear for authorities
- pointing fingerExtended digit indicating direction
- red white and blueAmerican flag palette
costume · caricature · illustration · Thomas Nast · political cartoon · parade float · mascot · American eagle
Divided governmental authority
- CongressU.S. lawmaking body
- WashingtonU.S. seat of government
- CapitolLegislative assembly building
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
taxation · IRS · legislation · policy · regulation · administration · executive branch · national debt
flag
Cloth symbol or signal
- stars and stripesFlag's visual elements
- Fourth of JulyAnnual American independence celebration
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
freedom · democracy · allegiance · nationalism · citizenship · homeland · veteran · independence · national anthem · red white and blue
enlistment
Voluntary entry into service
- draftPreliminary version of text
- conscriptionMandatory military enrollment
- I Want YouDirect statement of desire
propaganda · poster · military service · army · navy · marines · air force · volunteer · wartime · mobilization
allegory
Symbolic tale with deeper meaning
- embodimentConcrete manifestation of idea
- figureheadNominal leader, no authority
- avatarDigital user representation
representation · icon · effigy · manifestation · anthropomorphism · caricature · symbol · archetype · epitome · incarnation
top hat
Tall formal headwear
- white beardElderly man's facial hair
- blue coatColored outerwear for authorities
- pointing fingerExtended digit indicating direction
red white and blue · costume · caricature · illustration · Thomas Nast · political cartoon · parade float · mascot · American eagle · Columbia
federal
Divided governmental authority
- CongressU.S. lawmaking body
- WashingtonU.S. seat of government
- CapitolLegislative assembly building
bureaucracy · taxation · IRS · legislation · policy · regulation · administration · executive branch · national debt · spending
- AmericanaAmerican flag, Fourth of July, bald eagle, Thanksgiving, apple pie
- holiday figuresSanta Claus, Santa, St. Nicholas, Easter Bunny, Frosty
- Patriotic Phrasesland of the free, home of the brave, stars and stripes, red white and blue, united we stand
- personificationsMother Nature, Father Time, Grim Reaper, Lady Luck, Lady Justice
- American WWIdoughboys, General Pershing, Argonne, Western Front, over there
- US HistoryAmerican Revolution, US history, Civil War, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln
Uncle SamJohn Bull
English national personification
Mother Russia · Marianne · Britannia · Ivan · Mao Zedong
uncle, uncles, Sam, United States, avuncular, great-uncle, granduncle, granduncles, great-uncles