Why does the Brits still use the term "Great Britain" despite losing their "Greatness" to the Americans

Question

They lost the status of being the "Greatest" to the Americans many years ago, Why they still use "Great" to describe their nation?!
Ironically the Americans don't use "Great" next to "USA" despite being the only Superpower in this day and age!!

Answer 1

Great Britain refers to the largest of the British Isles. The word "Great" simply means "larger" (no connection with "greatness" in other senses is intended) in contrast to Brittany, a historical term for a peninsula in modern France that largely corresponds with the present day French province of Bretagne.

Great Britain - Although the UK government distinguishes officially between Great Britain and the United Kingdom[1], the former term (or simply Britain) is also widely used as a synonym for the latter.

To visulize this, Great Britain excludes Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom include Northern Ireland.

Answer 2

Ready for your English class?
" Why DO the Brits still use the term 'Great Britain', despite losing their 'greatness' to the Americans?
They lost the status of being the 'Greatest' to the Americans many years ago, why DO they still use 'Great' to describe their nation? Ironically, the Americans don't use 'Great' next to 'U.S.A.', despite that they are the only superpower in this day and age!!"
I would not use 'great' to describe your command of the English language either. This is a poorly-written question about names, not a historical question.

Answer 3

The reason that the word "Great" is used as part of "Great Britain" has been more than covered above - but I'd just like to put a few other things straight.

The British Empire was actually bigger than the Mongol Empire in both land acreage and number of people - so it was the "Greatest" empire the world has ever seen, not the second best.

I don't think that even Bush would concede that the USA are the only superpower in the world today.

People who live here may use the term "UK" more than "Great Britain", but most people call themselves "British" - although I would prefer to be called "English".

What made Britain "Great" was her empire, her unrivalled education and knowledge, her science and architecture, her history, her respected politicians, and her magnanimity............none of which the USA possesses.

Answer 4

Roxya123 cleared up your first mis-understanding.
However "despite being the only Superpower in this day and age!!" You had better go back to the books. We may be the most heavily armed country but hardy the only superpower. Power now comes in more forms then just weapons.

Knowledge is power, and we are losing this battle.

Answer 5

Poster #1 had the wrong Wikipedia page :D

Great Britain may well be a translation of the French term Grande Bretagne, which is used in France to distinguish Britain from Brittany (in French: Bretagne), which had been settled in late Roman times by Romano-Celtic troops from Maximus' army and later by refugees from Roman Britain, who were then under attack by the Anglo-Saxons. Since the English court and aristocracy was largely French-speaking for about two centuries after the Norman Conquest of 1066, the French term may have naturally passed into English usage.

Answer 6

I think this is a very interesting question which I have also discussed with Americans. I can't believe some of the stupid answers you have received on here. Not all black Americans are necessarily African Americans so I'm not sure it works. I think something which differentiates between ethnic origin (like black or white) and nationality (like British or American) is good. So black British would work I think.

Answer 7

Great Britain, officially known as:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

I think you'll find the majority of Brits call it "the UK".
It's overseas people who use the term Great Britain, not the locals.

Answer 8

Great Britain refers to the geographic areas of 'Scotland, Wales and England' it has nothing to do with politics. don't stop going to school!

Answer 9

Britannia is still great. And will forever be so.
I am American and we are children of Britannia, as are the Australians, the Canadians, the New Zealanders, as well as almost half of the globe.

She gave birth to our tongue, our culture, most of the fibers that make up our culture.....And I pray that we stand by her ...

God save the Queen!

Answer 10

Because it is the name of their country and a symbol of their love for and pride in that country. It doesn't just stand for the empire, that no longer exists. It is their heritage.