Read Next
Discover
Geography & Travel
Great Britain
island, Europe
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Also known as: Britain
Category:
Geography & Travel
- Also called:
- Britain
Recent News
Apr. 10, 2024, 2:30 AM ET (BBC)
Paris 2024: Great Britain women's handball team given Olympic qualifying chance
Apr. 9, 2024, 5:04 AM ET (South China Morning Post)
Jockey Club congratulates the Hong Kong Sevens on 30 years of rugby magic at Hong Kong Stadium
Apr. 4, 2024, 9:35 PM ET (AP)
UK airports get more time to put in new scanners that will allow more liquids and packed laptops
Mar. 30, 2024, 10:27 AM ET (AP)
UK counterterrorism police investigate an attack on an Iranian TV presenter outside his London home
Mar. 26, 2024, 8:40 PM ET (AP)
UK court says Assange can't be extradited on espionage charges until US rules out death penalty
Great 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.
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.
![Island, New Caledonia.](https://cdn.britannica.com/81/102281-131-26EFC52A/islet-reef-New-Caledonia.jpg)
Britannica Quiz
Islands and Archipelagos