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

Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith made history and Georgia Hunter Bell claimed a commanding 1500m gold as Great Britain maintained their bid to top the final medal table at the European Championships.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Abbie Donnelly wins the bronze medal in the women's marathon, with Great Britain also winning a gold medal in the team event, on the final day of the 2026 European Championships in Birmingham.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Tarling, the younger brother of Netcompany-Ineos rider Josh, had raced for Great Britain on the road and track.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain within days of entering King’s College, Cambridge, in 1936.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

That afternoon the leaders of the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union walked into a large room in Élysée Palace.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin