British Isles terminology
Map showing the terminology commonly used to describe the British Isles, the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Ireland. The terms used here are a mixture of geographic and political labels.
Great Britain
island, Europe
Also known as: Britain
News •
Jane Austen fans celebrate the author's 250th birthday in Britain and beyond
• Dec. 16, 2025, 12:23 PM ET (AP)
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• Dec. 12, 2025, 12:32 AM ET (AP)
British playwright Tom Stoppard, who won Academy Award for 'Shakespeare In Love,' has died at 88
• Nov. 29, 2025, 1:38 PM ET (AP)
The difference between Great Britain and the United KingdomBritain. Great Britain. The United Kingdom. The British Isles.
See all videos for this articleGreat Britain, island lying to the east of the island of Ireland and off the northwestern coast of Europe. It consists of England, Scotland, and Wales. Great Britain is part of the British Isles, together with the island of Ireland as well as smaller islands and island groups.
- Also called:
- Britain
The term Great Britain, which this article uses as a geographic designation, is often used as a synonym for the United Kingdom, a political entity that includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and that was once part of the British Empire.