Quick Facts
- Also called:
- Britain
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
British Isles terminology
Map showing the terminology commonly used to describe the British Isles, the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Ireland. The terms used here are a mixture of geographic and political labels.
Great Britain
island, Europe
Also known as: Britain
News •
UK will face AI cyberattacks on critical infrastructure by 2028, official says
• Nov. 3, 2026, 8:33 AM ET (AP)
UK leader Burnham hints at apology for country's role in slave trade but rejects reparations
• Oct. 31, 2026, 3:27 PM ET (AP)
The Difference Between Great Britain and the United KingdomBritain. Great Britain. The United Kingdom. The British Isles. Which is which?
See all videos for this articleGreat Britain, island lying to the east of the island of Ireland and off the northwestern coast of Europe. It consists of England, Scotland, and Wales. Great Britain is part of the British Isles, together with the island of Ireland as well as smaller islands and island groups.
The term Great Britain, which this article uses as a geographic designation, is often used as a synonym for the United Kingdom, a political entity that includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and that was once part of the British Empire.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by J.E. Luebering.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.