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

See Examples For:

Great Britain

In 1951 Great Britain, still reeling from World War II, attempted to boost morale with a fair promoting the nation’s accomplishments and innovations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

To be legally sold in Great Britain, new panels must be tested against the industry's G98 standard and the government's product specification.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Great Britain gave him the international recognition denied to him by Wales, and he rewarded the selectors by racking up the tries, particularly against the Australians who would bear the brunt of his scoring ability.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Dozens of Great Britain athletes had been taking a new product that increased muscle mass and improved athletic performance – a "wonder pill" that didn't fall foul of any doping rules.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

K. Fuchs, Lamphere learned, was Klaus Fuchs, a German-born British physicist who joined the Manhattan Project with a team from Great Britain.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau