Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1 2.4
The official name of the country in northwest Europe made of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
  • proper noun
translation icon : Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte
  • If you were saying Britain, you'd be totally correct there, as it's the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Examples

  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is known for its rich history and cultural diversity.

  • If you were saying Britain, you'd be totally correct there, as it's the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

    Blog text (21)

  • Many tourists visit the landmarks in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland each year.

  • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland comprises four nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Synonyms

Britain
vsUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
487 1.0

A country in northwest Europe made of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

names the full political country rather than just the island or casual use
UK
vsUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
328 1.0

A country in north-west Europe made of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

is the full formal title rather than the short written form
United Kingdom
vsUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
74 1.0

A country in northwestern Europe made of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

is the full formal title used in official contexts
U.K.
vsUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1.0

A country in northwest Europe made of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

is the full formal title rather than the short written form

Surface Forms

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland main

Morphology

united + kingdom + of + great + Britain + and + northern + Ireland

This official country name is fully compositional: 'United' (joined together) + 'Kingdom' (a sovereign state) + the geographic qualifiers 'Great Britain' and 'Northern Ireland' name the territories included. A B1 learner who knows these constituent words can readily infer it denotes the country composed of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so the expression is transparent rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland comes from old kingdoms being joined: Great Britain is the large island with England, Scotland and Wales, and Northern Ireland is the part on the island of Ireland. So the long name simply says it is a 'country made of different parts'.