Britain or England?

Britain = England + Scotland + Wales.

Geograhically, Britain is the large island comprising England, Scotland and Wales (also known as Great Britain). Politically, the name is used to mean the United Kingdom (the country), which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. When people say Britain, they most often mean the latter, to the extent that they are aware of the difference.

Although (Great) Britain does not include Northern Ireland, as GPY said, The adjective 'British' is used for the whole United Kingdom. So, Northern Ireland may not be part of (Great Britain) but many of the people who live there are British.

Great Britain:
England
Scotland
Whales

United Kingdom:
Great Britain
Northern Ireland

British Isles:
Great Britain
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Isle of Man

English 1b3Whales

Isn't all of Ireland (like it or not) part of the British Isles?

Mister MicawberIsn't all of Ireland (like it or not) part of the British Isles?

Not to many Irish people. They quite understandably do not like this term.

fivejedjonAlthough (Great) Britain does not include Northern Ireland, as GPY said

Um, my point was in fact that "Britain" often does include Northern Ireland because people use the term to mean the United Kingdom, the country. For example, when you hear "Britain" mentioned in the media, either domestic or international, it almost always means the countr