Great Britain

Great Britain (pronunciation: /ˈɡreɪt ˈbrɪtən/) is a geographical term referring to the island located to the northwest of mainland Europe. It is the largest island in Europe and the ninth-largest in the world. The island is dominated by the United Kingdom, which includes the countries of England, Scotland, and Wales.

Etymology

The term "Great Britain" is derived from the Old French Grande Bretagne, used in the 11th century by historians to distinguish it from Brittany, which is referred to as Bretagne in French. The term was first used officially in 1474 in the instrument drawing up the proposal for a marriage between Cecily the daughter of Edward IV of England, and James the son of James III of Scotland, which described it as "this Nobill Isle, callit Gret Britanee".

Related Terms

United Kingdom: A sovereign state that includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
England: The largest and most populous country of the United Kingdom, located in the southern part of Great Britain.
Scotland: A country that is part of the United Kingdom, located in the northern part of Great Britain.
Wales: A country that is part of the United Kingdom, located in the western part of Great Britain.
Ireland: An island located to the west of Great Britain, divided into Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland.
British Isles: A geographical term that includes Great Britain, Ireland, and over six thousand smaller islands.