Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Great Britain
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images & Videos
British Isles terminology
The difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom
Quizzes
Island, New Caledonia.
Islands and Archipelagos
Union Jack, British flag, Flag of Great Britain, British Culture, British Empire, England, English Culture, English Flag
Know Your UK Geography Quiz
Read Next
Union Jack flag of Great Britain, united kingdom
What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?
The Wedding of Victoria I, Queen of England and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in London, England. Vintage etching circa mid 19th century. The wedding was on February 10th, 1840.
Why Have So Many World Leaders Married Their Cousins?
Discover
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Engraving by Cosomo Colombini (d. 1812) after a Leonardo self portrait. Ca. 1500.
10 Famous Artworks by Leonardo da Vinci
An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Space race (1957-1969) infographic between United States (U.S.) and Russia. America, Soviet Union, U.S.S.R., space exploration
Timeline of the Space Race, 1957–69
Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks
Why Does the New Year Start on January 1?
Time zone map with standard time zones and International Date Line
Why Are Some Time Zones 30 Minutes Off Instead of an Hour?
A human Inuit skull in a stone chambered cairn in Ilulissat in Greenland. These ancient graves are pre christian and are at least 2000
14 Tough Questions Answered
British Isles terminology
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
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
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Also known as: Britain
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History
Also called:
Britain
See all related content

News •

New bone test could rewrite British history, say scientists • Jan. 2, 2025, 4:01 AM ET (BBC)
Tour de Ski World Cup: Britain's Andrew Musgrave wins stage three bronze • Dec. 31, 2024, 4:19 AM ET (BBC)
James Jones: Great Britain cyclist retires from competitive BMX • Dec. 31, 2024, 12:58 AM ET (BBC)
Asda: NI farmers protest over 'excluding NI produce' claims • Dec. 22, 2024, 6:43 AM ET (BBC)
Retail sales in Great Britain weaker than expected despite early Black Friday deals • Dec. 20, 2024, 9:12 PM ET (The Guardian)
The difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom
The difference between Great Britain and the United KingdomBritain. Great Britain. The United Kingdom. The British Isles.
See all videos for this article

Great 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.