England
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What is England? England is one of the divisions that make up the country of the United Kingdom. England is the largest and most populous of the four divisions. While England is sometimes referred to as a country, it is actually part of the sovereign nation known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly shortened to the United Kingdom or UK), along with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England is by far the most populous of the four divisions, having over 56 million people in 2019. The next largest division, Scotland, had approximately 5. 4 million people living there in 2019. England is also the largest in geographic size, being nearly 20,000 square miles larger than next-biggest, Scotland. England makes up most of the southern half of the island of Great Britain, with Wales located to its west and Scotland to its north. The word England is often mistakenly used to refer to the whole of the UK. As well, the division between the national government of the UK and the regional government of England is much less clear than the same divisions for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. While the other three enjoy some degree of self-governance, England rarely does.
Discover More
The king or queen of England is the king or queen of the United Kingdom.
The name England is often used to refer to all of Great Britain.
Compare meaning
How does england compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yields on U.K. government bonds fell after below-forecast inflation for April calmed fears about the possibility of aggressive Bank of England interest-rate rises in the coming months.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
“These figures will feel bittersweet for rate setters,” Suren Thiru, chief economist at The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
Former Scotland rugby union international Doddie Weir died in November 2022, and World Cup-winning former England international Lewis Moody was diagnosed in September 2025.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
Former Chelsea and England striker Daniel Sturridge told Sky Sports: "One second difference and it is a guaranteed penalty. Cucurella is so lucky."
From BBC • May 19, 2026
His father, Henry Sr., came from London to see his new son and escort Kate and their two boys back to England.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
