BRITAIN

also called Great Britain, island off the western coast of Europe that consists of England, Scotland, and Wales (qq.v.). Both terms are often used synonymously with United Kingdom (q.v.), which also includes Northern Ireland (q.v.). Administratively, Britain includes the Isle of Wight, the Scilly Islands, the Hebrides, the Orkney and Shetland islands, and other smaller offshore isles but does not include the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.