DictionaryAI

Britain

BRIT-uhn/ˈbɹɪt.ən/

7 meanings of Britain

Practice

  1. 1
    United Kingdomproper nouncountable or uncountable
    A country in northern Europe made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

    Britain includes Northern Ireland along with England, Scotland, and Wales.

    She moved to Britain and settled in Belfast.

    UsageSay in Britain, with no the.

    Note
  2. 2
    proper nouncountable or uncountable
    The large island made up of England, Scotland, and Wales.

    Britain is an island, and Ireland lies just to its west.

    Britain is the largest island in Europe.

    UsageFor the island, people often say Great Britain.

    Note
  3. 3
    the empireproper nounhistoricalcountable or uncountable
    The British state together with all the lands it once ruled overseas.

    At its peak, Britain covered nearly a quarter of the world's land.

    In 1900, Britain included India, Canada, and many other lands.

    Note

Use it in a sentence

Write your own sentence with Britain, and AI will tell you whether it fits and which meaning you used.

Origins

Meanings 1–3, 6

The name came through Middle English and Anglo-Norman from Latin Britannia, from the Britannī people, ultimately from an old Brythonic word for Britain.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

  • The name passed through Middle English and Anglo-Norman from Latin Britannia. en.wiktionary.org
  • Latin Britannia derives from the name of the Britannī people. en.wiktionary.org
  • The name ultimately derives from a Brythonic name for Britain. en.wikipedia.org
Meanings 4–5

From Middle English brytayn, from Latin Britannus, which apparently came from Brythonic.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts