Uncle Tom

1 of 2

noun

Un·​cle Tom ˌəŋ-kəl-ˈtäm 

1

disparaging : a Black person who is overeager to win the approval of whites (as by obsequious behavior or uncritical acceptance of white values and goals)

2

disparaging : a person who is overly subservient to or cooperative with authority

the worst floor managers and supervisors by far are women … Some of them are regular Uncle Toms

—Jane Fonda

Uncle Tomism

ˌəŋ-kəl-ˈtä-ˌmi-zəm 

noun

Uncle Tom

2 of 2

verb

Uncle Tommed; Uncle Tomming

intransitive verb

disparaging

: to behave like an Uncle Tom

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Uncle Tom, pious and faithful Black slave in Uncle Tom's Cabin (1851–52) by Harriet Beecher Stowe

First Known Use

Noun

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1933, in the meaning defined above