Great Britain

American  

noun

1. an island of NW Europe, separated from the mainland by the English Channel and the North Sea: since 1707 the name has applied politically to England, Scotland, and Wales. 88,139 sq. mi. (228,280 sq. km).

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Great Britain British  

noun

1. England, Wales, and Scotland including those adjacent islands governed from the mainland (i.e. excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands). The United Kingdom of Great Britain was formed by the Act of Union (1707), although the term Great Britain had been in use since 1603, when James VI of Scotland became James I of England (including Wales). Later unions created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1922). Pop: 57 851 100 (2003 est). Area: 229 523 sq km (88 619 sq miles) See also United Kingdom

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Compare meaning

How does great-britain compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Great Britain vs. United Kingdom
• England vs. Great Britain
• Britain vs. Great Britain

Example Sentences

Renewable energy produced a record amount of electricity in Great Britain last year, with wind the biggest single renewable source.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

The Pennsylvanischer Staatsbote probably learned that the Continental Congress had severed ties with Great Britain from a source in the shop of John Dunlap, who had a contract to print the body’s resolutions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

"Great Britain used to have that, and I think that the only way to stop it is to make the consequences a lot more severe than what they are."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Quiggin was told the cause was the wording of his passport, where instead of reading: "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland," it read: "British Islands Isle of Man."

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

He had two reasons for coming to the newly unified kingdom of Great Britain.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall