Sinclair, Upton Syllabification: (Sin·clair, Upton)Pronunciation: /sinˈkle(ə)r/Definition of Sinclair, Upton (1878–1968), US novelist and social reformer; full name Upton Beall Sinclair. He agitated for social justice in 79 books, including The Jungle (1906) and the 11-volume “Lanny Budd” series (1940–53). Sinclair, Upton in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of Sinclair, Upton in the British & World English dictionary