United Kingdom

American  

noun

1. a kingdom in NW Europe, consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: formerly comprising Great Britain and Ireland 1801–1922. 94,242 sq. mi. (244,100 sq. km). London. U.K.

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United Kingdom British  

noun

1.  UK.  a kingdom of NW Europe, consisting chiefly of the island of Great Britain together with Northern Ireland: became the world's leading colonial power in the 18th century; the first country to undergo the Industrial Revolution. It became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1921, after the rest of Ireland became autonomous as the Irish Free State. Primarily it is a trading nation, the chief exports being manufactured goods; joined the Common Market (now the European Union) in January 1973. Official language: English; Gaelic, Welsh, and other minority languages. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: pound sterling. Capital: London. Pop: 63 395 574 (2013 est). Area: 244 110 sq km (94 251 sq miles) See also Great Britain

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United Kingdom Cultural  

1. Part of the official name of the British nation; the full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It includes England, Scotland, Wales, and six counties of Ireland, ruled by the king or queen of England, and represented in the nation's parliament.

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Compare meaning

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

• Great Britain vs. United Kingdom

Example Sentences

It was a "tangible expression of long-standing friendship and a sign of our shared desire to see France and the United Kingdom build their future together," Macron wrote in an article for The Times newspaper.

From Barron's • Jul. 10, 2026

Law-enforcement officers raided Alinaghian’s home and found a few dozen air bags, then seized packages from the United Kingdom en route to him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 9, 2026

The third heatwave of the year has started across parts of the United Kingdom with temperatures expected to rise up to 34C for some by the middle of the week.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026

Population growth of 2% per annum in the U.S. far outstrips the 0.8% of the United Kingdom, while the U.S.’s real GDP is substantially higher at 3.6% versus 2.1%.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 3, 2026

But the United Kingdom is separated from the rest of Europe by the English Channel and the North Sea.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein