Britain, Great Britain, United Kingdom, British Isles Britain or Great Britain refers to the island comprising England, Scotland, and Wales, with the small adjacent islands. Britain is also used as a historical term, referring to these islands before the coming of the Anglo-Saxons.
United Kingdom is short for 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.
Between 1801, when Great Britain and Ireland were united, and 1920, when Ireland was partitioned, United Kingdom also included southern Ireland, now the Republic of Ireland. Natives or citizens of the United Kingdom are officially British , although they may describe themselves as English , Irish , Scots , or Welsh . See also England .