British Empire

noun

1. a former collective term for the territories under the leadership or control of the British crown, including those in the Commonwealth of Nations and their colonies, protectorates, dependencies, and trusteeships.

British Empire

noun

1. (formerly) the United Kingdom and the territories under its control, which reached its greatest extent at the end of World War I when it embraced over a quarter of the world's population and more than a quarter of the world's land surface

British Empire

1. The empire of Britain , which began in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries with the establishment of colonies in North America and ended in the twentieth century as dozens of nations, formerly British possessions, became independent. At the empire's greatest extent, around 1900, it included Australia , Canada , India , New Zealand , vast portions of Africa , and many smaller territories throughout the world. The empire ceased to have an “emperor” in the late 1940s, when the British king renounced the title of emperor of India. The empire has been succeeded by the British Commonwealth, which was formed in 1931.

Word History and Origins

Origin of British Empire¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

During his service to the British Empire, the RAF flight lieutenant flew several missions before being shot down, captured and placed in a prisoner of war camp.

From BBC

In 1956 she was awards a British Empire Medal for her actions.

From BBC

Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, a human rights activist and CEO of UK Black Pride, argues that "one of the many lasting legacies of the British Empire is the cultural impact of homophobia".

From BBC

Exhausted with the British Empire impressing American sailors into military service and refusing to accept United States neutrality in its conflict with France, Jefferson imposed a general trade embargo that crippled the New England economy.

From Salon

By the time those films and hit series came around, Smith had worn her Dame Commander of the British Empire title for many years, having been appointed in 1990.

From Salon