Advertisement

Advertisement

Uncle Tom

noun

, Disparaging and Offensive.
  1. a Black person, especially a man, considered by other Black people to be subservient to or to curry favor with white people.
  2. a person who exhibits overly deferential behavior.


Uncle Tom

noun

  1. informal.
    a Black person whose behaviour towards White people is regarded as obsequious and servile


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • Uncle Tomism, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

  • Uncle Tomish adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of Uncle Tom1

An Americanism first recorded in 1920–25; so called after the leading character in Uncle Tom's Cabin

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of Uncle Tom1

C20: after the slave who is the main character of H.B. Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852)

Discover More

Example Sentences

For the record, Wasserman Schultz never referred to West as “Uncle Tom” in the House meeting that set off their feud.

When he called Obama an "Uncle Tom" and wouldn't apologize, Ralph Nader effectively cancelled out his own credibility.

“On, toward the house,” said Uncle Tom, nodding his head in the direction of the bungalow.

At this I could not help laughing, when Uncle Tom, who had not perceived me before, transferred his attention to me.

Then came "Uncle Tom" looking men, driving wagons loaded with newly-riven rails, breathing the virile pungency of freshly-cut oak.

It is wonderful that the people here do not seem to have got over "Uncle Tom" a bit.

Southern people when reading "Uncle Tom" thought little of the unpleasant things in it: they liked the pleasant things in it.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement