Britain is the name sometimes used for the United Kingdom. The country is officially known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But the terms Britain or Great Britain are sometimes used in sports and social events. Citizens of the United Kingdom are described as British.
In 1707, the Kingdom of England and Wales united with the Kingdom of Scotland to form Great Britain. An act of 1801 formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The country became known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland after 1921, when Ireland became independent.
See also United Kingdom.
